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Columbia County Sheriff’s officials said the Cane Corso, now named Barney, was found abandoned on the side of Route 23 in the hamlet of Craryville on Thursday, Jan. 25.
A passerby spotted the animal and assumed it had been struck by a car because it couldn’t put any weight on one of its front legs.
The good Samaritan called the Town of Copake Dog Control Officer and Barney was taken to a veterinarian, where x-rays revealed he was suffering from an advanced stage of osteosarcoma, or bone cancer.
It is one of the most painful conditions an animal can suffer without proper medical attention, according to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA.
“It’s the opinion of investigators that Barney’s owner, knowing his condition and not wanting to seek proper medical attention or reach out for assistance, abandoned Barney on the side of the road,” said Ron Perez, the organization’s president.
“This is one of the most shameful, cowardly acts of cruelty one can do to an animal. In their most desperate time of need, to abandon an animal on the side of the road – in Barney’s case, knowing the painful condition that he was suffering from – is unconscionable and shows depraved indifference to this dog.”
After consulting with a medical team, they made the difficult decision to euthanize the dog.
“It was determined that Barney was suffering too badly from this irreversible and painful condition,” Perez added.
Investigators asked anyone with information to contact the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at 518-828-0601.
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