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Woman Allegedly Pushed Her Dog Into A Lake And Watched Him Drown
Nancy Bucciarelli faces animal cruelty charges in the death of her "old and easily winded" golden retriever.
A New Hampshire woman was arrested after for allegedly pushing her dog into a lake and do nothing as he drowned to death.
Nancy Bucciarelli, 66, of Merrimack, New Hampshire surrendered to police on June 14, six days after after being spotted by witnesses allegedly pushing her 11-year-old golden retriever Bailey off a Naticook Lake dock. She allegedly watched the animal struggle until his death.
Merrimack Police Capt. Matthew Tarleton described the animal's frailty before his death.
“The witnesses described the dog as appearing old and easily winded while walking around prior to the drowning,” Tarleton told The New Hampshire Union Leader.
Witnesses told police that they had attempted to help the dog but couldn't rescue him in time, explained Merrimack police Chief Denise Roy.
"It is a sad story. It's unconscionable to think what this defendant is charged with," Roy said, according to WMUR of Manchester, New Hampshire. "The witnesses actually are the ones who jumped into the water to find the dog under the water and pull the dog out. They made every attempt to revive the dog, but unfortunately the dog did die."
Roy added that she has been alarmed by the response to the story on the Internet.
"There's become a social media frenzy that we don't want," she said. "She's charged with a horrific crime; however, this doesn't help. This actually feeds into it and makes it worse, and it really stops the process from happening effectively."
Bucciarelli has been released on personal recognizance. She has been charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty charge. She will return to court on June 27.
