More Than 100 Gather In Hoboken To Mourn Jersey City Dog, Mac

HOBOKEN, NJ — More than 100 mourners, both furry and human, gathered at a Hoboken park Friday night to hold a vigil for a Jersey City dog who died after being left with a pet sitter, drawing outrage from animal lovers all over social media. READ MORE: Jersey City Dog That Went Missing With Sitter Has Died: Owner

The saga began last week when Jersey City resident Diego Chaves left his goldendoodle dog, Mac, with a new pet sitter. He couldn't contact her when he returned from vacation, then got a strange message from her saying the dog had gotten loose.

Dog lovers in Jersey City, Hoboken, and elsewhere rallied to find Mac. Wednesday night, Chaves posted that the dog had been brought to a veterinarian and was now deceased, although he said he did not want to talk about the circumstances yet. He has not said whether the dog had passed away before he was brought to the vet, and who brought him.

Jersey City Municipal Prosecutor Jake Hudnut wrote on Instagram that the Jersey City police are investigating the case.

Chaves attended Friday night's vigil but did not speak. Instead, local dog walker Will Ferman of Furever Friends led the vigil, vowing that the pet care industry would change thanks to what happened. Angry pet lovers have said that pet professionals need to be better vetted by agencies and social media sites.

As a guitarist played "Over the Rainbow," some of the attendees shed tears. Others held their dogs closer, and some sniffed out new friends. But they all agreed that Mac's life will not be in vain.

Read previous coverage here.

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