Dog Found in Squalid Conditions After Owner's Eviction, Charges Filed

A two-year-old American Staffordshire Bulldog, now named Peppy, was rescued by authorities after being abandoned in a room at the Cedar Lodge in the Town of Hopewell, Ontario County.

A two-year-old American Staffordshire Bulldog, now named Peppy, was rescued by authorities after being abandoned in a room at the Cedar Lodge in the Town of Hopewell, Ontario County. The dog was discovered on January 1, 2025, following reports of whining and distress.

According to the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office and the Ontario County Humane Society, the room where Peppy was found was covered in feces, with no food or water available for the dog. Investigators determined that Peppy had been left behind by his owner, John D. Kirby Jr., 53, who had been evicted from the Cedar Lodge two days prior.

Kirby was arrested and charged with failure to provide food and water to an impounded animal, a misdemeanor. Authorities issued him an appearance ticket for Hopewell Town Court, with additional charges pending.

Peppy has since been transported to the Ontario County Humane Society, where he is receiving care. Officials confirmed that Kirby never attempted to reclaim the dog after his eviction.

The Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Canandaigua Police Department, is continuing the investigation.