Sign: Man Moved Away, Leaving His Crated Dog to Die

Published: October 31, 2025 at 04:21 PM Author: Penny Eims

Bath, New York – On October 4, officers with the Bath Police Department entered a home exuding the stench of death. Inside, a grim discovery was made…an abandoned and forgotten skeletal pit bull mix was locked in a crate, dead from starvation.

According to the authorities, her owner, 23-year-old Zachariah D. Hill, had moved out of the residence approximately five weeks earlier, leaving his dog trapped in a crate with no food or water. The abandoned dog had survived for “some time” by eating her own feces.

Investigators learned that Hill had been offered resources and assistance for his dog, but he declined them. Instead, he walked out the door without a backward glance, leaving his crated dog to die a slow and agonizing death.

Starvation causes immense physical and emotional suffering in dogs, leading to muscle wasting, organ failure, chronic pain, and psychological distress. It is a slow, agonizing process causing constant suffering every hour and every day until death ends the anguish. In the days leading up to death, dogs suffer fear, panic, anxiety, and emotional despair.

This dog suffered a slow, deliberate death because of Zachariah Hill’s cruel actions. Starvation is not passive neglect; it is intentional, prolonged torment. Hill may have silenced her forever, but this dog’s life mattered. Please add your name to demand that this man be held accountable for what he did to his dog.

Decision Maker: Steuben County District Attorney’s Office

WHY THIS PETITION MATTERS: 

We, the undersigned, demand that Zachariah D. Hill be held accountable for his intentional abandonment of his dog, who lost her life to starvation. This man locked his dog in a cage, with no food or water, and moved away, leaving her to suffer an agonizingly slow demise. As she was dying, she experienced unimaginable fear, hunger, and pain, and the cruelty she endured must not be minimized. It is our collective demand that Hill face the maximum sentence for the Class E felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals. We also demand that this man be permanently banned from owning, residing with, or working with animals in the future. Laws must recognize the actual seriousness of animal abuse and ensure that those who commit these brutal acts are held fully accountable.

Research shows a clear link between animal cruelty and human violence. Those who harm animals often pose a danger to people as well. Failing to hold this man accountable not only denies justice to the dog he left to die but also puts the entire community at risk.

Individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law. Animal Victory relies upon the authorities and the court system to determine guilt or innocence.

Note: Hill was booked into Steuben County Jail and later released; the charge did not qualify for bail. And, according to a report by My Twin Tiers/WETM 18 News, Hill was charged with Sexual Abuse in the 1st degree, a class D Felony, in 2018. The incident involved sexual contact with a 9-year-old. We are working to determine the outcome of this case.

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