A memorial to the three dogs killed in Eaton Reservoir at the location they were found marks the day they died.
But they are remembered.
At least two memorials have appeared at Eaton Reservoir in remembrance of the dogs. One is located on the west side near the Black Road parking area. The other is located along the east side shoreline where the dogs were found.
On Oct. 20, the Pennsylvania State Police were called to the eastern boat ramp of the reservoir to investigate the discovery of three deceased dogs that were found in the water.
Police said the dogs had been shot multiple times while they were in the water. All three dogs were pit bulls and had numerous scars, which led police to believe they were being trained as fighting dogs.
Photos by David Prenatt A memorial fixed to the telephone pole on the west side of the Howard Eaton Reservoir remembers the three dogs who were shot and killed there. The memorial reads: “Now you are in heaven.”
Officer Eric Duckett, of the ANNA shelter cruelty division who investigated the incident, said the dogs were almost surely part of an organized dog fighting ring. They were probably brought from out of the area and killed at the reservoir because they were no longer able to fight, he said.
Duckett investigated the killings extensively, reaching out to state and national authorities.
“I’ve been in contact with dog fighting experts at the HSUS (Humane Society of United States) at the national level. They are aware of this,” he said.
Furthermore, the organization PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the people who committed the act. The reward offer also stated that “The three small pit bulls — one black male, one black female, and one brown female, each between 35 and 39 pounds — all had injuries consistent with being used in dogfighting and were wearing the quick-release collars typically used in organized dogfights.
The investigation appears to have come to a dead end, Duckett said. He said he had a few tips from the state police, but they did not pan out. He also said that he received several leads from private citizens, but to no avail.
“It seems like it’s not going anywhere,” Duckett said. “There are no more leads coming in.”
Still, many people in the area say they remember the dogs and think about them. One Harborcreek resident who was present the day the dogs’ bodies were discovered said she can’t begin to understand how anyone could treat dogs in such a manner.
“The relationship between humans and dogs goes back tens of thousands of years,” she said. “I read that scientists discovered a grave in Germany with two human skeletons and two dog skeletons, all buried together, as a family, more than 14,000 years ago.”
Another onlooker also said he was appalled by the cruelty of some humans. “I simply can’t wrap my head around this kind of thing,” he said. “Our dogs are treated like family members. They deserve to be treated with respect and kindness.”
