Arrest Made in Animal Cruelty Case Where Dog Was Tied to Tree in Albany’s Pine Bush Preserve

ALBANY, NY – A 33-year-old Schenectady woman is facing animal cruelty charges following an investigation into an abandoned dog earlier this month in the Pine Bush Preserve.

On Thursday, April 13, 2023 around 3:45 p.m., officers responded to the Pine Bush Preserve near the intersection of New Karner Road and Old State road for reports of an abandoned dog. Upon arrival, officers discovered a female pitbull mix dog tied to a tree without food or water while temperature remained in the high 80’s.

City of Albany Animal Control also responded to the scene and transported the dog to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society where she was evaluated and received medical care. The dog remains at the Humane Society where she is currently healthy and doing well.

Investigators from the Special Operations Unit who are tasked with investigating incidents of animal cruelty, ultimately identified as Rachel Gibson, 33, of Schenectady as a suspect in the incident and took her into custody Tuesday.

Through their investigation, investigators determined that on April 13^th, Gibson drove to Albany where she then directed a 14-year-old girl, who is known to her, to exit the car and tie the dog to the tree in the Pine Bush Preserve. In addition, Gibson had this done in the presence of her 12-year-old daughter who remained in the car.

Gibson has been charged with one count of Animal Cruelty, one count of Abandonment of Animals and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

She is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, May 9^th in Albany City Criminal Court.

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