A Rochester man has been charged after allegedly abandoning a dog outside a grocery store in Farmington in May.
According to the Ontario County Humane Society, the chocolate Labrador retriever—later identified as “Duke”—was found wandering inside the Tops Market on Route 96 around 9 p.m. on May 17. Tops employees and New York State Police secured the dog and brought him to the Humane Society shelter, where staff discovered he had a microchip.
The microchip led animal control officers to Duke’s registered owner, who told authorities the dog had been living with her estranged husband, 39-year-old William Flint of Rochester.
Surveillance footage from Tops and nearby businesses showed Flint’s vehicle arriving behind the store and parking on the east side of the lot. He and a juvenile were seen entering the store as Duke roamed the area. As they exited the store, Duke approached them, but both individuals appeared to intentionally avoid the dog, walking away from him before returning to their vehicle and leaving the property without him.
Store employees later contacted 911 after securing Duke.
An arrest warrant was issued by Farmington Town Judge Lew, and Flint turned himself in at the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday. He was charged with Animal Abandonment and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, both Class A misdemeanors. He was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Court and released on an appearance ticket.
Duke was temporarily adopted by a witness to the incident. Sadly, the dog passed away from kidney failure one month later, on June 17. The Humane Society thanked the witness for providing Duke with a loving home in his final days.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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