A Hamburg, New York, man is facing felony animal-cruelty charges after police said he admitted to shooting his 7-year-old German Shepherd in the face, an attack investigators said followed repeated calls in which he claimed the dog was dangerous and needed to be destroyed.
In a report for WIVB-TV, reporter Rob Petree said the dog, Sky, was found injured in the backyard of a home on West Canyon Drive in the Brook Gardens mobile home park after Hamburg police were called for a welfare check on a Sunday morning.
Police said Sky had suffered a gunshot wound and was rushed for emergency care. The German Shepherd remained in critical condition, though staff at the Erie County SPCA said the dog was showing encouraging signs while recovering.
The owner, 62-year-old Dennis Rutkowski, was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, prohibited use of weapons, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, according to Petree’s report. The allegations remain pending in court.
What made the case especially unsettling, according to records discussed by WIVB, was the reason police say Rutkowski gave in the days surrounding the shooting. A temporary extreme risk protection order application stated that he had called police twice asking them to euthanize Sky, saying the dog was dangerous and needed to be destroyed.
The same application said Rutkowski appeared to be experiencing mental-health concerns and had claimed the dog was possessed.
Police Find Sky Injured In The Backyard
Petree reported that officers were dispatched to the mobile home park at about 9:35 a.m. after receiving a request for a welfare check.
When they arrived, police said they found Sky in the backyard with a gunshot wound.
The dog had reportedly been shot in the face.
Sky was taken for treatment, and the case quickly shifted from a welfare concern into a criminal investigation. Police later said Rutkowski admitted to shooting the animal.
The report did not indicate that Sky had attacked anyone or injured anyone before the shooting. Instead, authorities said Rutkowski had contacted police before the incident to request that the dog be put down.
That distinction matters. A person can be frightened by an animal, overwhelmed by a pet’s behavior, or convinced that a dog is dangerous, but the proper response is to call animal control, police, a veterinarian, or an emergency animal service. Shooting a pet is not a substitute for seeking help.
Neighbors Say Sky Was Known As A Gentle Dog
Several neighbors told Petree they were shocked by the allegations.
Jillian Naab, who said she had watched Sky from time to time, described the German Shepherd as a sweet dog who did not deserve what happened.
“I have taken care of that dog,” Naab said. “I know that dog very, very well. He’s probably one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever met.”
Her account does not determine what happened inside the home or what Rutkowski believed at the time. But it explains why the case was so upsetting for people in the neighborhood.
A familiar dog being hurt is different from an anonymous news report. Neighbors had seen Sky, interacted with him, and viewed him as part of the community around the mobile home park.
Another neighbor, Bill Kross, told WIVB that Rutkowski had said “the devil was in his dog.”
Kross said he struggled to understand how the situation could have reached that point.
“It’s just weird that something like that happens,” he said. “I don’t understand what makes somebody snap like that.”
That reaction is understandable, but the circumstances also show why it is important not to reduce a possible mental-health crisis to a simple label. The legal case concerns the alleged shooting and the evidence surrounding it. Any mental-health issues, if present, are matters for qualified professionals and the court process to address.
Earlier Calls Raised Concern Before The Shooting
According to the temporary extreme risk protection order application cited in Petree’s report, Rutkowski contacted police twice before the shooting.
The application said he requested that officers euthanize Sky because he believed the dog was dangerous and needed to be destroyed.
Police also wrote that Rutkowski appeared to be having mental-health concerns and was saying the dog was possessed.
Those calls appear to have become a major part of the investigation after Sky was found wounded.
They also raise difficult questions about crisis intervention. Police and animal-control agencies often receive calls involving aggressive animals, distressed owners, and situations where people feel unable to care for a pet safely.
But when a caller appears frightened, confused, or disconnected from reality, the risk can extend beyond the animal. It can become a safety issue for the person, the pet, family members, and neighbors.
The most important point is that the dog survived long enough to receive treatment. Had officers not been called for the welfare check, Sky’s condition could have remained unknown for much longer.
A Protection Order Led To A Firearms Search
After Rutkowski was arraigned, the Hamburg Police Department sought a temporary extreme risk protection order.
Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane told WIVB that a judge signed the order, allowing authorities to return to Rutkowski’s home and search for additional firearms or weapons.
“They were able to get a judge to sign that order,” Keane said. “So, that went back to his home Monday, and they executed the search of his home.”
Keane said any additional firearms or weapons found at the residence would be seized and that Rutkowski would not be allowed to obtain more weapons moving forward under the order.
Extreme risk protection orders can be controversial because they involve temporarily restricting access to firearms before a criminal case is resolved. But in cases where police believe there is an immediate danger to a person, animal, or the broader public, authorities may seek court approval to remove weapons while the situation is investigated.
In this case, the order was connected to allegations that a dog had already been shot and to police concerns documented in the application.
Rutkowski was released under supervision after his arraignment, Petree reported. He is due back in court on July 30 for a felony hearing.
Sky Remains In Critical Condition
While the criminal case moves forward, Sky’s recovery remains the immediate concern for animal-care workers.
Gina Lattuca of the Erie County SPCA told Petree that the dog was still in critical condition but had shown signs of resilience.
“There’s a wagging tail,” Lattuca said. “There’s a desire to get up and walk around.”
She added that staff had been spending time comforting him.
“There’s a lot of hugging going on,” Lattuca said. “This dog has already won the hearts of everybody here at the SPCA.”
Those comments offer a small measure of hope in a case that otherwise centers on severe harm.
Animals recovering from major injuries often need extended medical treatment, monitoring, pain management, and rehabilitation. Even when they survive the first crisis, recovery can take time and the outcome can remain uncertain.
Still, Sky’s apparent responsiveness and willingness to interact with caregivers gave staff reason to remain hopeful.
A Case That Has Left A Community Shaken
The allegations against Rutkowski have unsettled neighbors because the case involves a dog many people knew and viewed as gentle.
It has also drawn attention because of the reported explanation behind the shooting. Police said Rutkowski believed the animal was possessed, while the protection-order application described concerns about his mental state.
Those are serious allegations, and they should be handled carefully. Rutkowski has been charged, not convicted, and he has the right to challenge the evidence in court.
But the case also illustrates how quickly an animal-welfare concern can become a criminal and public-safety matter.
Sky’s survival may be the most important development so far. The dog was found, treated, and placed in the care of people working to keep him alive.
As the court case proceeds, the larger question will be whether prosecutors can prove the charges filed against Rutkowski. For now, the focus remains on Sky’s condition and the effort to help a badly injured dog recover from an attack police say should never have happened.
Raised in a small Arizona town, Kevin grew up surrounded by rugged desert landscapes and a family of hunters. His background in competitive shooting and firearms training has made him an authority on self-defense and gun safety. A certified firearms instructor, Kevin teaches others how to properly handle and maintain their weapons, whether for hunting, home defense, or survival situations. His writing focuses on responsible gun ownership, marksmanship, and the role of firearms in personal preparedness.
