Animal Control Officer Arrested In Mahwah, 37 Dogs Seized: Police

MAHWAH, NJ — An animal control officer for at least two North Jersey towns — who runs a kennel based in Mahwah — has been arrested on five animal neglect charges, and 37 dogs have been seized from the property, the Mahwah police said Wednesday.

Richard DuBarton III was charged Thursday, Feb. 22, three days after a dog was found near death in a Dumpster at the kennel he owns and operates in Mahwah, police said. When they searched the property, they ended up removing 37 more dogs, said Mahwah police.

DuBarton is not the animal control officer for Mahwah, police in that town noted. However, he trains K9s at the business — Aronwood Kennel in Mahwah — and is the animal control officer for at least two other towns in North Jersey, including Plainfield and Irvington.

Last week, the town of Plainfield wrote in a social media post, "The City of Plainfield and relevant departments are aware of the recent charges against an Aranwood Kennel employee. We're collaborating closely to prioritize our animals' welfare and are staying apprised of the next steps for Aranwood Kennels, including sourcing alternative solutions. Updates will be provided to the public as the situation progresses."

Good Samaritans Found Dying Dog

Police in Mahwah said Wednesday that "The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred at Aranwood Kennels located at 100 Stag Hill Road, which is owned and operated by Mr. Dubarton. Earlier in the week, the Mahwah Police Department was contacted by a customer who boarded their dog at Aranwood Kennel. While picking up their family pet, they heard whimpering coming from the outside dumpster."

Police added, "Upon checking the dumpster, they observed a canine, barely alive in a plastic bag that appeared to be malnourished and near death. When they advised Mr. Dubarton of this, he claimed someone must have dumped the dog there. The dog was taken to nearby animal hospital."

The Mahwah Police Department’s animal humane officers, Nicole DiPasquale, Sean Hayes, and Micheal Silano, launched an investigation, according to Mahwah Det. Sgt. Eric Larsen.

The officers determined that for some reason, the dog's original owner had turned the dog over to the Irvington police, who then gave it to DuBarton, the animal control officer for Irvington.

When the Mahwah police and animal control officers searched the property, they took custody of 37 other dogs.

"The dogs were all vetted and given to local dog rescues for the time being," said the Mahwah police on Wednesday. "Mr. Dubarton was employed as an Animal Control Officer for several other jurisdictions in the State of New Jersey, which were all contacted and advised of what had occurred at his facility."

Puppy Found In Dumpster

A post by a woman on Facebook Wednesday, Feb. 28 says, "This is the dog we found thrown out like yesterday’s trash in a dumpster at Aranwood Kennel" with two photos of a dog in a trash bag.

She responded to questions by saying the dog is recovering at a vet's office.

The former manager of the kennel, who hasn't been involved since 2021, expressed her outrage when she learned about the situation on Wednesday.

“I, Geraldine McAnany, am disgusted over the news of Aranwood kennels," she said. "I ran Aranwood for over 30 years, loving each animal as if it were my own."

The Charges

Dubarton was charged with the following offenses, according to the Mahwah police:

• Exposure of Animal to Adverse Conditions
• Failure to Provide Necessary Care to an Animal
• Failure to Provide Sanitary Environment for an Animal
• Failure to Provide Access to Water to an Animal
• Failure to Provide Medical Care to Animal Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury

Dubarton is scheduled to appear in court on March 8, police said.

An animal rescue organization posted on Facebook that they will be trying to adopt out some of the dogs.