County Investigates Animal Dumping in Pelham

County authorities opened an official investigation after a Pelham public worker found two animal carcasses dumped in garbage bags on public property. The incident was first reported to Pelham police on Thursday, February 28.

Pelham police reports said that the worker was blowing leaves on an area of public property near First Ave. and Hutchinson River Parkway when the first animal- a dog was found on village property. Soon after, a second animal was found on county property and appropriate authorities were called.

"We did recover the remains of a single dog, possibly a pit bull. There also were skeletal remains nearby of an animal later determined to be a possum," said Kieran O'Leary, spokesperson for the Westchester County Police Department.

"It appears that the dog died of natural causes and its remains were dumped in that area. We believe that this dog died relatively recently and there is no connection to the incident from last year."

Last May, a Bronx veterinarian was charged with four misdemeanor counts after 35 animals were found dumped near the Hutchinson River Parkway near Harrison.

An unrelated case of animal dumping also occurred in July of last year in Rye.