Sparta police say people mistakenly believe Roni and Elysia Amiel mistreated the 8-year-old Neapolitan mastiff. But Sgt. John-Paul Beebe says in a statement that the family decided to keep Zoey home with loved ones after the dog was diagnosed in April with terminal kidney failure.
A neighbor took a photo of the dog and called police after seeing Zoey in June.The Daily Record of Parsippany reports an animal control officer found the dog without a collar or ID tags and took it to an animal hospital, where Zoey was euthanized.
Police are trying to determine whether to file charges stemming from the harassment.
