Altamont boarding facility closes, dog found dead

ALTAMONT, N.Y. (NEWS10) —  The owners of Meadowdale Acres a boarding facility in Altamont have been charged with misdemeanors for animal cruelty, resulting in the death of a 2-year-old male pit bull named Diesel. 

“I’ve had him since he was born, like eight weeks old. He would always run around. He was happy, always wagging his tail,” explained Michelle Willi, Diesel’s owner.

Michelle explained that she needed a temporary home for her pets because she had to move but had not yet found a place that takes dogs. “From their reviews on Google, I thought that they were a decent place.”

Two weeks after dropping her pets off in early June, Michelle said she received a call telling her she needed to come get her dogs because the business was closing, “If I didn’t pick them up within 24 hours, that she would surrender them to an animal shelter.” Michelle went on to explain the boarding facility held onto both dogs. Then on September 2nd she said she got a call saying that one of her dogs had died. “I just think that it’s a shame that the two owners are almost 80 years old and if they honestly couldn’t have taken care of them, then, you know, they should’ve did something differently.”

Guilderland police confirmed they arrested 79-year-olds Stuart and Marilyn Reese, along with 44-year-old Jonathan Tenney after exhuming the dog’s body from the property. Mohawk Hudson Humane Society officials said a necropsy found diesel to be in very poor health. They said the dog had a one out of nine score on the Purina Body Condition System, meaning clear loss of muscle mass, and visible ribs and vertebrae. They also examined the kennels with consent from law enforcement and reported an overpowering odor of animal waste and ammonia, and several dogs with stains on their fur from the animal waste. 

Michelle still has one dog at the facility, Angel, her 4-year-old pit bull, “I have to make arrangements to have her picked up. So, I’m working with Guilderland police to make arrangements to have picked up.”

Officials at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society believe that a statewide animal abuse registry is needed. The CEO, Ashley Jeffrey Bouck explained,

“Animal abuse registries can be effective tools for protecting both animals and communities if widely accessible and consistently used. Like sex offender registries, they make convictions visible to animal services agencies and law enforcement, helping prevent known abusers from acquiring new animals.

New York needs a statewide registry, building on those already in place in Albany, Rensselaer, and now Saratoga Counties. It must cover all animal cruelty convictions, bar offenders from owning or working with animals, and be easily searchable by both law enforcement and the public. Strong penalties must also be in place for those who try to bypass it.

 Registries alone, however, are not enough. They must be paired with tougher penalties that send a clear message: cruelty will not be tolerated. Together, these steps can break cycles of violence, protect vulnerable animals, and create safer, more humane communities.”

NEWS10’s Reporter, Peyton Cavanaugh spoke with Lieutenant Devoe of the Guilderland Police Department who stated that the court has required all animals in their care be relinquished to their owners or the humane society.

According to Devoe, 79-year-old Stuart Reese, 79-year-old Marilyn Reese, and 44-year-old Jonathan Tinney were arrested and charged with the class “A” Misdemeanor Cruelty to Animals under the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law for failure to provide sustenance.

All three pleaded not guilty to the charges and are expected back in Guilderland Town Court on October 9th.

Stick with News10 for further updates as this investigation continues.