Animal advocates in New Jersey are demanding answers after the disturbing discovery of seven dead pit bulls inside a green plastic storage container in an area known for illegal dog fighting was reportedly never investigated by local police.
The grisly find was made on June 25 at the corner of 16th Avenue and 20th Street in Irvington. According to reports, Irvington public works employees discovered the deceased dogs and immediately notified Irvington’s Animal Control. A troubling photo of the container shows the dogs, which were tan, black, or a mix of both, piled inside. Notably, the dog on top appears to have been a puppy.
An online petition addressing the issue has gained momentum, collecting over 600 signatures so far. It reads: “It is very concerning to the Irvington community that someone among them could commit such an act of animal cruelty. The community deserves answers, and these seven dogs deserve justice.”
Kelly Conover, a South Orange resident and psychologist who launched the petition, claims that illegal dog fighting is widespread in the area. “They have someone in their community who is doing this, and they don’t seem concerned,” Conover told The Post. “What kind of monster does this and thinks they can get away with it? By doing nothing, it sends a message to the community that we don’t give a s-t, that you can leave them dead, piled up in a tub on the side of the road and we don’t give a s-t.”
The Animal Control report stated that the dogs showed no signs of malnutrition, open wounds, or obvious trauma. However, it noted that security cameras in the vicinity were either broken or positioned away from the location where the container was found. The report speculated that the dogs died from heat exposure, citing the presence of blisters on their bodies.
Despite this assumption, necropsies were never performed to determine the actual cause of death. “They could have been poisoned or suffocated, but we don’t know what killed them,” Conover said. She also revealed that officials informed her the dogs’ bodies were humanely disposed of.
The report further mentioned that the carcasses were relatively fresh and none of the dogs had identifying microchips.
The community continues to call for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind this tragic incident and to ensure justice for the seven pit bulls.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/15/us-news/seven-dead-dogs-found-on-nj-street-corner-but-police-didnt-investigate/