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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Lawmaker arrested for 'strangling golden retriever in front of horrified Good Samaritan'
A town chairman in northern Wisconsin has been arrested for mistreatment of an animal after allegedly strangling a stray dog to death. Richard Van Buren, 55, was brought a stray golden retriever that a local had found at a nearby nature center on June 17 - since it was part of his job as the chairman of the town of Chester, Wisconsin, to take in lost animals. According to criminal complaints, he attempted to put a collar on the dog as soon as it arrived, but it bit and resisted. In response, he dangled it in the air by a leash multiple times, reportedly saying: 'This f***ing dog is going to die.' The complaint stated: 'The dog's legs were off the ground and suspended about two feet in the air. It was foamed at the mouth.' He continued to strangle the dog to death and even admitted that he'd dealt with 'aggressive' dogs in the past and it didn't 'end well.' According to the complaint filed by Shelby Krohn, Van Buren only kept stray dogs for about a week before he 'takes care of it.' Krohn clarified that he meant shooting and killing them. Krohn was walking along at Marsh Haven Nature Center in Dodge County, Wisconsin, when she came across a panting, terrified golden retriever, and jumped in to rescue it. She told local outlets it took her 45 minutes to coax the dog into her car before driving off to get some help from the Dodge County Humane society, who sent her to Van Buren's farm. Krohn told local affiliates: 'When I close my eyes, all I can see is those dog eyes looking at me while this man is strangling him to death and I couldn't do anything. I couldn't do anything.' 'That was not a mistreatment of an animal, that was murder of an animal.' Shortly after the incident, the Dodge County Humane Society shared a photo of the canine on social media in hopes of finding its original owner. Instead, people caught wind of the story and chimed in, completely outraged at the ordeal. One person wrote: 'This whole thing has me shook up. As a dog mom of 4 dogs I could NEVER hurt them or kill them! Another person added: 'They are my family and get hysterical if they even hurt themselves or is sick. I hope this dog gets justice.' While a third said: 'I'm guessing this isn't the first time he's abused animals.' Some even threatened Van Buren, his family, and other local officials. One wrote: 'This guy is going to be found .... naked in the marsh with a leash around his neck.' And another said: 'Unfortunately this individual has probably done this before, and has probably extended it beyond animals. If I were other jurisdictions I'd be looking at cold cases.' Dodge County Humane Society later issued an update via social media, in direct response to the outcry of concern in the community for the lost dog. 'We know many of you are looking for updates on the stray dog found yesterday at the marsh, and we truly appreciate your concern and compassion,' they said, in part. 'Please know that we are working closely with the Dodge County Sheriff's Office as they investigate this case. These processes take time and must be handled thoroughly and lawfully. 'We're incredibly grateful to be part of a community that speaks up for animals. However, we kindly ask that you do not call or email the Dodge County Humane Society or the Sheriff's Office for updates or to request further action - both agencies are actively doing all they can. 'What you can do to help right now is continue sharing the dog's photo so we can hopefully identify its owner.' The Sheriff's Office also addressed the community in a statement, acknowledging the county's concern over the case. It said: 'The sheriff would like the community to know that the sheriff's office does not make enforcement decisions based on outcry or pressure from the community as that would be inappropriate and unethical. 'Rather, we take the time to gather the necessary evidence that the district attorney needs for a successful prosecution. While the community may at times request immediate action by a law enforcement agency, that may not always be what is best for the final resolution of a case.' They also condemned social media users for publicly threatening Van Buren and his family, noting that, 'threats to the personal safety and property of individuals are not only inappropriate but may also be illegal.' 'The sheriff's office will take threats seriously and make arrests as appropriate if they are deemed to be in violation of the law. This includes threats which are made via social media. Other social media posts have been seen that are grossly inaccurate and inflammatory.' Along with the chorus of social media ridicule, Van Buren faced a single count felony and will appear in court on July 31.
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
Town pol accused of strangling lost golden retriever as good Samaritan watched in horror: ‘All I can see is those dog eyes looking at me'
A local official in Wisconsin is facing death threats after he allegedly used a leash to strangle a lost and scared golden retriever in front of the horrified good Samaritan who had just rescued the pooch. Town of Chester Chairman Richard Van Buren, 55, is facing a single count of felony mistreatment of an animal, according to a criminal complaint, after allegedly lifting the dog by its neck with a leash and saying, 'This f–king dog is going to die.' 'That was not a mistreatment of an animal; that was murder of an animal. And I've seen this and witnessed this,' Shelby Krohn, who saved the dog, told Fox 6 with tears streaming down her face. Advertisement 3 Richard Van Buren, 55, is facing a single count of felony mistreatment of an animal, according to a criminal complaint, after allegedly lifting the dog by its neck with a leash. Dodge County Sheriff's Office 'When I close my eyes, all I can see is those dog eyes looking at me while this man is strangling him to death, and I couldn't do anything. I couldn't do anything.' Krohn was going for a walk along Horicon Marsh Tuesday evening when she encountered the petrified golden retriever, who looked dehydrated. She spent 45 minutes coaxing the dog into her car, she told the station. Advertisement She took the dog to the Dodge County Humane Society, which told her she needed to take the canine to a local official. The Humane Society shared a picture of the pup on Facebook, asking, 'Do you know me?' Krohn drove to Van Buren's farm to bring him the dog. The dog allegedly bit Van Buren when he tried to put one of his leashes around its neck. Once it was secure, he yanked the dog by its leash through Krohn's car window, according to the complaint. 'The dogs' legs were off the ground and suspended about two feet in the air,' the complaint said. 'It was foamed at the mouth.' 3 Shelby Krohn was going for a walk along Horicon Marsh Tuesday evening when she encountered the petrified golden retriever, who looked dehydrated. Dodge County Humane Society Advertisement Krohn tried to intervene and begged him to stop. He ignored her. 'He suspended the dog up in the air again and at this time it was limp near the cage,' according to the complaint. Van Buren told Krohn that this wasn't the first dog he had dealt with violently, according to the complaint. 'Van Buren admitted dealing with aggressive dogs doesn't usually 'end well' and indicated he had dealt with them in the past in his capacity as town chair,' the complaint stated. Advertisement 'Richard Van Buren said he usually keeps a stray dog for seven days and after that, he 'takes care of it,' which I clarified meant he shot it with a gun,' according to the complaint. 3 She took the dog to the Dodge County Humane Society, which told her she needed to take the canine to a local official. Dodge County Humane Society The incident aroused strong — and sometimes violent — responses. Facebook banned a post calling for revenge against Van Buren, and the Dodge County Sheriff's Office issued a stern warning. 'There have been threatening comments made by some community members that must be addressed. Threats to the personal safety and property of individuals are not only inappropriate but may also be illegal,' the sheriff said in a statement. 'While we respect the freedom of speech, that freedom of speech does have limits when it comes to threatening another person's life, family members, or property.' The sheriff's office added that it will make arrests if threats are deemed to be in violation of the law — including those made by social media. Van Buren returns to court July 31 for a preliminary hearing, court records show. The Humane Society also urged residents to remain calm and encouraged them to help find the dog's owner. Advertisement 'What you can do to help right now is continue sharing the dog's photo so we can hopefully identify its owner,' it read. 'Our hearts are heavy — for this dog, for the kind person that found them, and for everyone in our community who feels the pain of animals we can't always reach in time.' The post featured a quote from German philosopher Immanuel Kant that read: 'We can judge the heart of man by his treatment of animals.'
