We are deeply disturbed by the lenient sentence given to Anaiya Harris, a Utica, New York, woman who deliberately sealed her dog in a closet to die of starvation and dehydration before moving out of her apartment. On Friday, February 13, 2026, Oneida County Court Judge Robert L. Bauer sentenced Harris to just six months in county jail and five years of probation, despite her facing up to two years behind bars. She will also be required to sign the Oneida County animal cruelty registry.

This disturbing discovery was made in June, 2025, when a landlord entered the vacated Lenox Avenue apartment. Authorities reported that the dog had been locked inside a crate, placed inside a closet, and that spray foam had been used to permanently seal the door shut. 

Following a grand jury indictment in August 2025, Harris was arrested on two animal cruelty charges and ultimately convicted of aggravated cruelty to animals under N.Y. Agriculture & Markets Law § 353-a, a Class E Felony. Under this statute, she faced up to two years of incarceration and a $5,000 fine. During sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Andrew K. Rahme noted the deliberate nature of the act, and Judge Bauer cited a pre-sentencing report indicating Harris showed a “complete lack of remorse.”

Harris’ calculated cruelty to her dog is an act of irrational callousness. The least she could have done was to alert her landlord as she moved. Harris sealed a helpless animal in a closet to experience fear, panic, and the agony of severe dehydration and starvation.

Before sentencing, we sent a letter to Oneida County District Attorney Hon. Todd C. Carville bearing 12,815 signatures from compassionate supporters calling for vigorous prosecution and the maximum possible sentence for this heinous crime. We are profoundly thankful to every supporter who signed our alert in defense of this dog. Your voices helped show that this dog’s life mattered and that this cruelty could not pass in silence.

Nothing can bring back this life or undo the harm caused, and this sentence will disappoint many. This dog suffered an agonizing death at the hands of the person who was supposed to be a guardian. An animal who should have been a beloved individual was unimaginably betrayed. We appreciate the efforts of law enforcement to bring abusers like Harris to justice and not rest until courts have the power to deliver real consequences for animal abusers who are a risk to all members of society.

Contact the Judge to Express Your Unhappiness with This Sentence

If you are disturbed by this lenient sentence, you can respectfully contact Judge Robert L. Bauer to express your disappointment that he accepted such a poor plea deal.  This dog’s prolonged suffering warranted a far stronger response.

Call Judge Robert L. Bauer’s chambers at 315-266-4321 and say:

“Hello, I am calling to express my deep disappointment with the sentence given to Anaiya Harris after a dog was sealed in a closet and left to die of starvation and dehydration. This was a horrifying act of deliberate cruelty, and six months in jail is far too lenient. I urge Judge Bauer to reflect the seriousness of severe animal cruelty in future cases. Thank you.”

You can also write a respectful letter in your own words to:

Hon. Robert L. Bauer
Oneida County Courthouse
200 Elizabeth St.
Utica, NY 13501

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