Hamburg Woman Arraigned on Animal Cruelty Charges for Causing Death of Dog Left Inside Hot Vehicle

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 49-year-old Joy A. Bickert of Hamburg was arraigned on Tuesday evening before Orchard Park Town Court Justice Michael Pastrick on one count of Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals; Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance (Class "A" misdemeanor under New York Agriculture and Markets Law) and one count of Confinement of Companion Animals in Vehicles: Extreme Temperatures (violation under New York Agriculture and Markets Law).

It is alleged that on Friday, June 21, 2024, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the defendant went to a veterinarian in the Village of Hamburg after she found her dog unresponsive in her vehicle. The dog, an approximately 2-year-old female mixed breed Bulldog named "Eleanor," died after she was allegedly left inside of a parked vehicle with the windows closed for several hours on Southwestern Boulevard in the Town of Orchard Park. The defendant was later charged and issued an appearance ticket.

Bickert is scheduled to return on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. for further proceedings. She was released on her own recognizance as the charges are non-qualifying offenses for bail.

If convicted of the highest charge, Bickert faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail.

"This is a heartbreaking case involving the death of a pet who was trapped inside of a vehicle on a hot summer day in Western New York. But these situations are preventable tragedies. I remind everyone, especially in the summer months, to double check their backseat for children and pets before exiting their vehicles," said Acting DA Mike Keane.

Acting DA Keane commends the SPCA Serving Erie County, SPCA Animal Cruelty Senior Investigator William Heine and Chief Lindsey Wood, Town of Hamburg Dog Control, Village of Hamburg Police Department, and the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University for their work in this investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Garvey of the Animal Cruelty Unit and Assistant District Attorney Nathan W. Zobrest of the Justice Courts Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.