Hamburg Man Pleads Guilty for Shooting His Dog

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Dennis J. Rutkowski, 62, of Hamburg, pleaded guilty this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Debra Givens to one count of Attempted Aggravated Cruelty to Animals (Class A misdemeanor under New York State Agriculture and Markets Law) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree (Class A misdemeanor).

On Sunday, June 28, 2026, at approximately 9:35 a.m., Town of Hamburg Police officers responded to residence on West Canyon Drive to conduct a welfare check. While outside of the defendant's residence, the officers saw an injured dog in the backyard.

The defendant attempted to cause serious physical injury to his companion animal by shooting the dog in the head with a rifle. The weapon was seized and the defendant was placed under arrest. The injured dog, an approximately 7-year-old male German Shepard named "Sky," was taken to the Orchard Park Veterinary Hospital to be treated for a single gunshot wound to its face. The dog was placed in the custody of the SPCA Serving Erie County. "Sky," who has since been adopted by a new owner, continues to recover from the injury.

Rutkowski faces a maximum of 364 days in jail when he is sentenced on Tuesday, December 8, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. He remains released under the supervision of the Probation Department. At his arraignment in Hamburg Town Court, Judge Carl Morgan imposed a temporary securing order that prohibits the defendant from owning, harboring, or having custody or control of any animals while the case is pending prosecution.

DA Keane commends Lieutenant Scott Weyrough, Detective Nicholas Borowski, Officer John Bluman, Officer William Blette and Officer Ryan Dreyer of the Town of Hamburg Police Department for their work in this investigation as well as Chief Officer Lindsey Wood and the staff at the SPCA Serving Erie County.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Megan E. Mahoney of the Animal Cruelty Unit.