PETA is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction on cruelty charges of the person(s) responsible for abandoning a terminally ill dog on Route 23. The canine, a cane corso later named Barney, was spotted on the side of the road on Thursday by a passerby, who initially believed that his leg was swollen due to being hit by a car. Barney was rushed to a veterinarian, who determined that he was suffering from advanced bone cancer, an extremely painful and irreversible condition.

Barney. Credit: Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA

Investigators believe that Barney was abandoned by someone who knew about his condition but failed to seek medical attention or assistance. Because he was in so much pain, the decision was made to euthanize him.

No leads or suspects have been identified, so PETA is asking for the public’s help. Would you please share this information with your audience? It may be the only way to find the person(s) responsible.

“Rather than getting treatment for Barney’s agonizing condition, someone dumped this suffering, sick dog on the side of the road,” says PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “PETA asks anyone with information to come forward immediately, as there may be more suffering animals in this person’s custody.”

Anyone with information related to the case should contact the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at 518-828-0601.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, or Instagram.