PETA Offering Reward For Person Who Left Dog Under Great Falls

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is offering a reward for bringing the person, or people, responsible for allegedly throwing the dog off a 80-foot high bridge and into the roaring Paterson Falls.

PETA is offering a $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction on cruelty-to-animal charges of the person, or persons responsible for throwing the dog, now named "Paterson," off the bridge.

The dog was stuck on a ledge Sunday just a few feet above the rolling brown water of the Passaic River. A woman who was above the falls saw the dog staring up at her and contacted Paterson Animal Control. Paterson Animal Control personnel, firefighters, and animal rescue staff responded to the scene.

Firefighter Capt. Scott Parkin rappelled down nearly 80 feet to the base of the Great Falls where the dog was. Once down there, he slowly lured the dog toward him with some food.

Parkin got the dog into a net and it was raised up to the footbridge high above the falls. The dog was hauled up to the bridge in a rescue net and taken to the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge in Oakland.

PETA is sending off a Compassionate Fire Department Award to the Paterson Fire Department Rescue Co. 2 and a Compassionate Action Award to Paterson Animal Control.

"Thanks to the quick action, technical expertise, and big hearts of Paterson first responders, this terrified dog was removed from a harrowing predicament and gently pulled up to safety and dry ground," said PETA Vice President Colleen O'Brien. "PETA hopes this story will inspire people everywhere always to help animals in distress — and encourages anyone with information about whoever might have wanted this dog dead to come forward before anyone else gets hurt."

Anyone about the case is urged to call Paterson Animal Control in 973-881-3640.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: "Paterson" trapped on a ledge below the Great Falls in Paterson and near the Passaic River. (Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge)