CHESTER, Wisconsin — Richard Van Buren, 55, the chairman of the town of Chester, was arrested after allegedly strangling a stray golden retriever to death.
On June 17, Van Buren took in a stray dog found near Marsh Haven Nature Center as part of his duties. According to criminal complaints, when he tried to put a collar on the dog, it resisted and bit him. In response, Van Buren reportedly dangled the dog by its leash about two feet off the ground multiple times while threatening, “This f***ing dog is going to die.”
The complaint described the dog’s legs as suspended in the air and the animal foaming at the mouth. Van Buren admitted to previously handling “aggressive” dogs in ways that “didn’t end well.”
Local resident Shelby Krohn, who initially found and rescued the terrified dog, said Van Buren only keeps strays for about a week before “taking care of it,” which Krohn clarified meant shooting and killing them.
The Dodge County Humane Society shared the dog’s photo on social media in hopes of finding its owner, but the story sparked outrage across the community.
One commenter said, “As a dog mom of four, I could NEVER hurt or kill them!” Another added, “I hope this dog gets justice.”
Krohn expressed deep anguish over the incident, saying, “When I close my eyes, I see those dog eyes while this man strangled him to death, and I couldn’t do anything.”
Van Buren faces charges of animal cruelty following the incident.
