Arrests Made in Disturbing Hudson Valley Animal Cruelty Case

A brutal case of animal cruelty in the Hudson Valley, NY, has resulted in the arrest of two in Sullivan County, NY.

As humans, we can all agree that this winter in the Hudson Valley has been tough, right? The cold temperatures have had us all struggling to stay warm, but imagine how bad it's been for some pets, especially when their owners leave them unattended, similar to what happened recently in Sullivan County, NY.

Dog Abandoned Outside Home in Wurtsboro, NY

Last month, the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) reported that deputies were called in to assist with an alleged case of animal cruelty in Wurtsboro, NY. On January 22nd, 2026, deputies responded to a residence at 53 Sunrise Trail in Wurtsboro, NY, to investigate a report of an abandoned dog that was tied up outside of the residence.

Upon arrival, deputies, along with the Town of Mamakating Animal Control Officer, located a shivering dog outside the home that appeared to be emaciated, lacking food and water.

Second Dog Found

As deputies continued to investigate the unoccupied home, they were able to locate a second dog curled up on a couch inside the home that was shivering from the cold and also appeared emaciated, without food or water. Deputies not only seized the animals, but also found an unsecured loaded shotgun in the residence.

Dog Owners Identified

Following the discovery, the SCSO continued to investigate and located the dogs’ owners in Monticello, NY. 55-year-old Linda Ann Kennedy and her brother, 54-year-old John Kennedy, were both arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a felony. Both were given tickets to appear in the Town of Mamakating Court at a later date.

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Both of the dogs were surrendered to the Catskill Animal Rescue Shelter in Ferndale, NY, and were adopted by a Sullivan County family. Sheriff Mike Schiff said that the dogs’ recovery and adoption were nothing short of a miracle. "They were both skin and bones. We didn’t think these dogs were going to survive", said the Sheriff.