Newburgh dog owner says city euthanized family pet after she couldn’t pay $3K in fees
Owner says she repeatedly sought a payment plan as boarding and veterinary costs mounted. City says a judge ordered the dog put down after a dangerous dog proceeding.
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A Newburgh woman says the city euthanized her 12-year-old family dog after she couldn’t afford nearly $3,000 in boarding and veterinary costs that accumulated while the animal was being held following a neighborhood dog incident.
Lisa Dedrick says her front door was broken, allowing her pit bull, Luna, and her other dog, Onyx, to get loose while she was outside. She says the dogs then got into a minor altercation with a smaller dog being walked nearby.
“I’m not saying it was right,” Dedrick told News 12. “But I don’t think anybody should’ve paid their life for it.”
Dedrick says Luna had never been involved in a fight before. She says Onyx was involved in the altercation for only seconds and claims Luna was mostly barking and growling. According to Dedrick, none of the dogs were injured. She also claims the person walking the other dog suffered what she describes as only “a minor puncture wound and scratch” on her leg.
Dedrick says City of Newburgh Animal Control took both of her dogs because their rabies vaccinations were overdue. She also says Luna’s dog license still listed an old address. Rather than allowing the dogs to complete a 10-day quarantine at home, she says they were boarded at Flannery Animal Hospital, where daily boarding charges, veterinary care and other fees quickly mounted.
Dedrick says she believes both dogs could have safely remained with her under quarantine restrictions.
She says she spent nearly $1,000 — all of her savings — to get Onyx back, but Luna remained at Flannery Animal Hospital as the bill for boarding, veterinary care and other fees climbed to nearly $3,000.
“I was calling animal control every day,” she said. “I know it costs money to house them at Flannery every day and I don’t have the money for this.”
Dedrick says the city would not allow Luna to be released until she first appeared in court. She says she appeared twice in City of Newburgh Court, most recently on July 16, when she offered to pay $900 toward Luna’s bill and requested a payment plan. She claims she was told the bill had to be paid in full before Luna would be released.
News 12 confirmed with the City of Newburgh Court clerk that a judge signed an order on July 16 authorizing Luna to be “humanely euthanized.” Dedrick says she later learned Luna was put down that same day before she could raise the remaining money.
The City of Newburgh, however, disputes much of Dedrick’s account.
News 12 repeatedly requested comment from the city beginning Monday but did not receive a response. Instead, police issued a press release late Friday afternoon — hours after News 12’s initial report on Dedrick’s allegations.
According to the city, officers responded on May 18 after a 17-year-old girl walking her family’s dog on a leash was severely bitten by Luna, suffering what it describes as a puncture wound and laceration to her thigh. The city says Onyx was not involved in the attack and that Luna had a documented bite history.
The city also says Dedrick stipulated in court that Luna met the legal definition of a dangerous dog. According to the press release, a judge terminated her ownership rights, ordered Luna to be euthanized and determined the dog was not eligible for adoption because of what the city describes as its documented bite history and aggressive behavior.
News 12 also reached out to Flannery Animal Hospital, where the animals were housed after being seized by animal control. In a statement, the hospital said its “hearts go out to the family and the pet in this situation” but declined to discuss the case, saying all questions should be directed to the City of Newburgh Police Department. The hospital said it works with police to assist animals in need and could not provide additional information.
The case has drawn concern from Hudson Valley SPCA President Joan Kay, who says there were other options available.
“This case is particularly alarming to me because this dog was 12 years old,” Kay said. “She had a loving home. She had children waiting for her to come home.”
Kay says both Luna and Onyx could have completed the required quarantine at home while being walked with muzzles, avoiding hundreds or even thousands of dollars in boarding and veterinary costs.
“The fees didn’t have to exist,” Kay said.
Kay also says Dedrick could have updated the dogs’ rabies vaccinations through several local animal clinics or commercial businesses that offer veterinary care before those costs accumulated. And while Kay says every dangerous dog case is different, she says that if the city considered Luna dangerous, she’s worked with other municipalities that have transferred dogs with bite histories to rescues or adoptive homes rather than euthanizing them.
Kay says she hopes to work with the City of Newburgh to explore more humane alternatives to euthanasia in future cases.
