WURTSBORO — On January 22, 2026 Sheriff’s Deputies were called to a residence at 53 Sunrise Trail in Wurtsboro, NY.

At the location, deputies met the Town of Mamakating Animal Control Officer, who was seeking assistance regarding an abandoned dog that was tied up outside of the residence. The dog was shivering from the cold and appeared to be emaciated, lacking food and water.

A second dog was located inside the residence which appears to have been unoccupied for some time. The dog was curled up on a couch shivering from the cold, also appearing emaciated, without food or water.

Deputies seized the animals as well as an unsecured loaded shotgun found in the residence. Further investigation by the Sheriff’s Office led deputies to the dogs’ owners who were now living in Monticello.

Deputies arrested Linda Ann Kennedy, 55, and her brother John Kennedy, 54. Both were charged with the felony of Aggravated Animal Cruelty. Under the bail reform laws, they were given tickets to appear in the Town of Mamakating Court, at a later date.

The two dogs were surrendered and eventually adopted to a Sullivan County family through the Catskill Animal Rescue Shelter in Ferndale. Sheriff Mike Schiff said that the dogs’ recovery and adoption was nothing short of a miracle. “They were both skin and bones. We didn’t think these dogs were going to survive”, said the Sheriff.