Medford man allegedly abused puppy then collected funds for the dog's surgery

A Burlington County man who earned sympathy and more than $14,000 for his severely injured puppy is now charged with animal cruelty and theft. Reid Herjo, of Medford, started a GoFundMe page for his 15-week-old German shepherd, Atlas, saying that the puppy suffered injuries when a driver ran a stop sign and struck the back part of the car, where the puppy was asleep. When Medford police stopped Herjo for speeding Jan. 22, he told the officer that he was trying to get the puppy to the veterinary hospital, after he was struck by an ATV while the two were walking, police said. But five days later, they received information that Herjo lied about the injuries, according to the report. The injuries were so severe that the puppy had numerous fractures that required surgery, and there was hemorrhaging, police said An investigation found that Herjo not only intentionally caused the puppy's injuries, but that in the six weeks Herjo had him there had been two other times the puppy was injured. Herjo said that in December, the puppy fell down the stairs and then in January, Atlas fell down a hill. On Feb. 3, the puppy died under what police have said were “suspicious circumstances as there was evidence that Atlas sustained additional trauma.” In an update on the GoFundMe page, Herjo claimed the puppy was limp when he went to pick him up in his pen. “My neighbor drove us to Red Bank ER while I was giving him CPR in the back seat,” Herjo wrote. Once at the vet, he was CPR and oxygen, but the pup had died, he said he was told. “I really don’t know what to say at this point besides that I failed my best friend,” he wrote. “I want to thank all of you for helping me be able to pay the surgery bill and your kind words. Everything left over from donations I will be donating to a local no kill shelter.”

But police now say the $14,065 donated by 693 people over a 28-day span was stolen by Herjo. He is now charged with third-degree animal cruelty and third-degree theft by deception. A hearing is pending in Burlington County Superior Court.