I had a complicated relationship with my dog. I loved her so much, but when I became a mom, the poor pup did not appreciate the new addition to our family. She wasn’t violent with him, but we definitely missed out on that sweet dog-boy bond. Nevertheless, she was part of our family. We fed her, housed her, and no matter how many times she peed on the floor or chewed holes through our socks, we loved her and kept her safe. I couldn’t imagine actually hurting her, especially because um, hello, she’s a dog. How could she possibly do anything that egregiously offensive?
Well, apparently a dog can do enough to push one New Jersey youth football coach to unfathomable measures.
Mark A. Paiotti, 41, stands accused of drowning his family’s 18-month-old dog in the bathtub then storing her remains in the garage, according to Independent Online News. Paiotti’s ex-wife recently discovered the gruesome find as she was collecting items for the Carlstadt, New Jersey, town garage sale. She reportedly opened a container and inside was the foul-smelling remains of the dog wrapped in a trash bag.
“She was soup and bones,” an anonymous law enforcer told Independent Online News. “The odor was contained until the (ex-wife) opened the lid.” Authorities stated that the dog had been in the tote for roughly 15 months.
Court records indicate Carlstadt police detectives charged the man with cruelty to animals on March 27.
The father was released pending trial. Paiotti allegedly told his then-wife and four children that Roxy, a Labrador mix, was “re-homed.” Investigators report he then told his eldest child that Roxy ran away. Ultimately, he allegedly confessed to the crime during an argument with his ex.
“He told his (ex-wife) that he drowned the dog in the bathtub, but she didn’t believe him,” another anonymous source told Independent Online News.
Animal journalist Paul Mueller wrote that the family had adopted Roxy from 2 Hands Saving 4 Paws Humane Society during a pop-up event in a neighboring town.
“The rescue says they are absolutely devastated and will make sure he receives the fullest punishment possible,” Mueller wrote.
Paiotti was a “respected and admired” coach in the community for youth football and baseball and was involved with cheer.
People in the community and beyond are utterly outraged at the news.
“Oh my god what a sick piece of [redacted],” exclaimed one follower on the Independent Online News post. “He should be banned from ever owning any type of animal again. That poor puppy. So sorry for the woman who found her and the poor children who were lied to by this scumbag. Hope he doesn’t have custody or loses it.”
“Harming animals is a big red flag. She’s lucky he is an ex-husband,” wrote another commenter.
“What a horrible human being. I hope he’s charged,” added someone else.
“If you can hurt an innocent puppy then you know what he can do to a person,” another person warned. “This made my stomach turn.”
Hopefully, justice can be served for poor Roxy and those kids can heal after learning what their father had allegedly done.
