Killer Dog Investigation Continues

A dog shelter that let a woman take home a dog that attacked and killed her 10 days later is facing a criminal investigation. Authorities said they're trying to learn whether the Newark shelter run by the Associated Humane Societies Inc. broke any law when it released a 95-pound Doberman pinscher to Valerie DeSwart, 67, of Medford.

"We need to do an aggressive, complete investigation," Medford Police Chief Edwin E. Wood told The Philadelphia Inquirer for Thursday's editions.

It wasn't clear what law may have been violated.

Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi told the newspaper that it's possible there would be theft by deception charges because the dog's previous owner took the dog to the shelter to have it put down.

The dog, which had a history of biting, was instead given to DeSwart after it had spent three months in the shelter.

The shelter is looking into why the dog was adopted, said its lawyer, Harry Jay Levin.

The shelter had been monitored for six years by the State Commission of Investigation, the Burlington County Times of Willingboro reported in Thursday's editions. A report in March said the shelter sometimes accepted money from pet owners to cremate animals but did not return the ashes to the owners.

DeSwart was found dead Sunday night inside her Medford home. She had suffered injuries to her face and neck.

Medford officials are taking legal steps to have the dog euthanized.

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