PLYMOUTH – A petition on change.org directed toward Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride regarding a matter involving a dog has garnered not only local attention, but also nationwide and global recognition.

According to the information described in the petition, a Rottweiler named Rocki remained on a road in the Town of Plymouth for four days during the month of May, unable to eat, drink, lift his head, or move.

The description in the petition also read that an area veterinary clinic ultimately euthanized Rocki.

The petition alleges that the Dog Control Officer in Plymouth, Matthew Bates, knew about the situation with the ailing dog in the road and did not take action. It further alleges that Bates threatened to arrest a citizen who attempted to take the dog to the vet on his own.

“It (the dog) was not a stray and in that case, the DCO can’t do anything about it,” said Plymouth Town Supervisor Jerry Kreiner in the days following the incident in May. “When he was made aware of the situation, he looked into it. He found who the owner was and it was her responsibility to take care of it.”