Overview

• Authorities discovered a plastic bag near Holland Drive by Lake Carmel containing two chickens or roosters and a white dove, all decapitated and drained of blood.
• The Putnam County SPCA opened an animal-cruelty investigation, noting a possible ritual connection that remains unproven under current evidence.
• Officials report about ten similar carcass dumps in Putnam County so far in 2025, prompting concern among residents near the popular lake area.
• Chief Ken Ross says enforcement is limited unless perpetrators are caught during the killings, leaving illegal dumping or local ordinance violations as the likely charges.
• The New York State Humane Association is offering a $1,000 reward for tips, and the SPCA asks witnesses to call 845-520-6915.