We are demanding that the Township of Irvington, NJ immediately conduct a formal police investigation into the SEVEN deceased dogs found inside a large container on June 25, 2025, at the corner of 328 16th Avenue and 20th Street in Irvington.  These dogs endured terrible suffering, were left in a heap and thrown away like trash, yet there seems to have been no investigation to find or hold accountable whoever was responsible for this cruelty.  We made this horrific discovery when reviewing the township's Animal Control Report Log, obtained as part of our ongoing advocacy for the town to contract with a licensed designated holding facility for stray animals.  What we found provides further evidence that the township of Irvington does not value the lives of the animals in its community and makes little effort to protect them.   

We, along with Patch.com, have reached out to the Township of Irvington regarding the absence of a formal investigation into this horrific act of animal abuse and have yet to receive a response from the town.  The lack of transparency and action sends a troubling message that animal welfare is not a priority in their community.

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According to the incident report, SEVEN deceased dogs were found piled in a large container on 6/25/25.  The incident report states that no necropsy was performed to determine the cause of death. Instead, it was concluded, based solely on the presence of blisters, that all seven dogs died from “heat exposure during the heatwave.”  In addition, the report states that a camera at one of the buildings on the corner where the dogs were found was not working and another was not pointed at the corner, but no effort was made to check other cameras in the area. The incident report states that there is an NJ Transit bus stop directly across the street from where the dogs were dumped. However, NJ Transit was not contacted, and no nearby residents or business employees were interviewed.  According to the documents provided in response to our request for all documents related to the investigation, there is no indication that law enforcement was ever involved.  It is very concerning to the Irvington community that someone among them could commit such an act of animal cruelty.  Given that these deceased dogs were dumped illegally, a thorough investigation would seem both warranted and necessary.

In New Jersey, there have been similar cases involving the dumping of even a single deceased dog, which were investigated by law enforcement and made public in an effort to identify those responsible. The handling of this incident appears inconsistent with those precedents.  The conclusion that the dogs died from “heat exposure during the heatwave” leaves unanswered questions, particularly since, regardless of the cause of death, the act of stacking deceased dogs in a container and dumping them on a street corner remains both illegal and deeply concerning.  This matter raises serious questions about public safety, animal welfare, and enforcement of existing laws.  The community deserves answers, and these seven dogs deserve justice. Their lives mattered!