Woman Devastated Speaks Out As She Watched Town Official Kill Stray Golden

2 days ago 9

What began as a simple act of kindness from Shelby Krohn turned into a scene of horror that she says she’ll never forget. Shelby, a devoted dog lover from Waupun, Wisconsin, found a stray golden retriever in a field in the Town of Chester. Hoping to help, she gave the gentle dog water and tried to do the right thing—only for it to end in heartbreak.

Shelby said she contacted the local Humane Society, which advised her to bring the dog to Richard Van Buren, the Chester town board chairman, because of jurisdiction. But when she arrived at his property, what she says unfolded next was beyond anything she could have imagined.

“I had tears streaming down my face as he ripped the dog, that innocent soul, out of my car and was choking it in the air,” Shelby recounted. “This man charged my car, yelled at the dog, turned his leash into a noose, and choked him.”

Devastated, Shelby later named the golden retriever “Goldy.” She describes herself as a “golden mama” who loves her dogs like her children, and said she will never emotionally recover from what she witnessed. Her neighbor, Karen Mohr, was among the first to comfort her, stating, “She loves dogs. I cannot believe this happened to her. He needs to be held accountable.”

Shelby and many in the community are now calling for Van Buren’s removal from public office. “I just want his responsibility taken away,” she said.

Van Buren has since been arrested and booked into the Dodge County Jail on a charge of mistreating animals. He awaits his initial appearance in court, while the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate.

The Dodge County Humane Society released a strong statement condemning the incident and reaffirming their mission to protect animals. “This tragic act stands in direct opposition to the values of compassion, responsibility and care that we strive to uphold,” the shelter stated. “No animal deserves to suffer or die because of negligence or cruelty.”

The Humane Society also emphasized the urgent need for humane education and accountability, especially for those in positions of authority.

For Shelby, the loss of Goldy was not just the loss of a dog—it was the loss of innocence, and a shocking reminder that those entrusted with protecting animals must be held to the highest standards of compassion.

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