Pets

7 Dead Dogs Found On Street Corner Near Irvington, Newark Border: Report

The dogs didn't have any signs of malnourishment or open wounds. Here's what likely killed them, a report says.

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Seven dead dogs were found inside a large, plastic bin on a street corner near the border of Irvington and Newark during a heatwave this summer, a report says.

Details of the deaths were outlined in an animal control investigation report from the Irvington Department of Health and Senior Services, pursuant to an Open Public Records Act request.

According to the report, animal control officers got a call on the afternoon of June 25 about several dead animals in a bin at the corner of 16th Avenue and 20th Street in Irvington, near the border with Newark.

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The call originated from the Irvington Township Public Works garage on 16th Avenue, the report states.

An animal control officer found seven deceased dogs inside the bin. A photo included in the report shows the animals piled on top of each other in a heap.

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The report includes several details about the dogs, which were identified as a “Bully breed”:

  • “No signs of malnourishment”
  • “No open wounds or evidence of trauma”
  • “Blistering consistent with heat damage”
  • “No signs of long-term decay”

The probable cause of death? Heat exposure, the report says, noting that temperatures reached nearly 100 degrees in the days leading up to the incident.

There were no tags or microchips to identify ownership or origin of the dogs, the report adds.

According to the report, security cameras on a nearby building weren’t working. There were also no cameras facing the area at a NJ Transit bus route loop, which is located directly across from where the bin was found.

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