Urbana man claims strangers gave his dog fentanyl before its death; police investigating

URBANA — Police are looking into an Urbana man’s report that his dog had to be put down after eating fentanyl thrown into his yard last week.

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Jeff Conley called his dog Benny, a 10-year-old Cavachon, his sidekick who he’s owned since the dog was 6-months-old.

“Everybody knew him. He loved – wherever I was at he’d want to be right there,” Conley told News Center 7′s John Bedell Tuesday. “So everybody loved him and he loved everybody. He didn’t know a stranger.”

Last Tuesday, Conley said he heard his gate rattle and went outside to check on the source of the noise.

“I went out and all I seen was three young men running up the bike path and (Benny) was eating something. And by the time I got to him, 45 minutes later, he just started foaming at the mouth and everything,” Conley said.

“I couldn’t get to him fast enough to get it. He had already swallowed it and digested it.”

He took Benny to the vet after the dog had several seizures before the vet said there wasn’t anything more they could do.

“The veterinarian called me the next morning and said, ‘Jeff, we got to put him down.’”

While the vet’s office continued their investigation, they told Conley the dog likely ate fentanyl and that led to his death.

“They weren’t sure exactly what happened. When they pumped his stomach, all that came out was clear liquid. But the end result is that (the vet’s office) believed it was probably fentanyl,” Conley said.

After Benny’s death, Conley said he contacted Urbana police and filed a report, saying the noise from his gate, the people running on the bike path, and Benny eating something all seemed unusual.

“(Benny doesn’t) go up to the fence, that’s the first time I’ve ever heard the gate rattle. That’s what got my attention,” Conley said.

“I just wanted to get the word out because I don’t want it to happen to other people’s pets. We all love our animals. I just want to make sure everyone in the community knows that if your dog starts acting funny, and they’re outside, and you see strangers, keep an eye,” he said.

Urbana Police Chief Matt Lingrell confirmed the department’s investigation into the dog’s death.

“We began an investigation stemming from a complaint by a resident (Jeff Conley), where he is alleging his pet dog was killed by ingesting fentanyl on May 11, 2021 which the complainant suspects was given to the dog by a group of individuals seen walking in the area of where the dog was,” Lingrell said in an emailed statement.

“We are continuing to follow-up on the case reported to us (last week) to gather as many facts as we can to help us to determine whether a crime has been committed,” Lingrell said.

While police continue their investigation, Conley said he’s still waiting on Benny’s ashes to come back from the vet’s office. But the entire vet bill had been paid by members in the community.

“I mean everybody knew Benny. That’s why when I had the vet bill and everything but community members came forth and paid for that vet bill, cremation, everything and paid it in full,” he said.

Cox Media Group