Newburgh dog owner says city euthanized family pet after she couldn’t pay $3K in fees
Owner Lisa Dedrick says her 12-year-old pit bull, Luna, was put down after she couldn’t afford the cost to reclaim her from animal control. The City of Newburgh has not responded to repeated requests for comment.
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A Newburgh woman says the City of Newburgh euthanized her family’s beloved 12-year-old pit bull after she couldn’t afford nearly $3,000 to reclaim the dog from animal control.
Lisa Dedrick tells News 12 her 12-year-old pit bull, Luna, and her other dog, an Akita named Onyx, were seized after what she describes as a minor altercation with another dog. She says none of the animas were injured, but both of her dogs were taken into custody because their rabies vaccinations had expired. Dedrick also says she had not updated Luna’s dog license with her current address after moving.
Dedrick says she spent nearly $1,000 in savings to reclaim Onyx, leaving her unable to afford similar initial fines and fees to bring Luna home.
According to Dedrick, Luna was placed at an animal hospital by the city, where she remained for nearly five weeks as the cost to reclaim her continued to grow, until it ballooned to roughly $3,000. She says she repeatedly asked the City of Newburgh Animal Control for a payment plan but was denied.
“They had given me a few chances to make payment, but the payments were always so high,” Dedrick said. “All they did was snowball out of control.”
Dedrick says she was told she would lose ownership rights to Luna if she did not pay the full amount.
Instead, Dedrick says she was notified a few days ago that Luna was euthanized by the city last Wednesday.
Dedrick took to social media last week for help and a GoFundMe campaign created to help cover the costs raised about $250 of the nearly $3,000 Dedrick says she needed to bring Luna home. She says she was unable to raise enough money before Luna was euthanized.
Hudson Valley SPCA President Joan Kay tells News 12 she is disturbed by Dedrick’s allegations and believes every effort should be made to reunite owners with their pets before euthanasia is considered. Kay also claims the City of Newburgh euthanizes most dogs it seizes.
News 12 repeatedly reached out to the City of Newburgh and its animal control department this week seeking information about Luna’s case, the city’s impoundment policies and its euthanasia practices, but has not received a response.
In the GoFundMe campaign, Dedrick wrote that Luna meant “everything” to her and her children and described the 12-year-old pit bull as “a gentle soul” who had brought so much joy to their family.
