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A simple microchip scan traced the owners of a dog abandoned with a note claiming they were ‘dead’ — and what cops uncovered was deeply disturbing

Left with food and water, the dog was tied at a building near a shelter, making the situation look suspicious and unsettling.

BY PAHUL NANRA

PUBLISHED 18 HOURS AGO

(L) Vet scanning microchip. (R) Two police officers. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) dardespot, (R) kali9)

A microchip scan led investigators to uncover a deeply disturbing truth about a dog abandoned with a note claiming his owners were “dead.” What seemed like a sad but straightforward case quickly spiraled into something more unsettling. On Monday, December 1, 2025, authorities in Fayette County discovered the dog tied to the Fayette County Water and Sewer Department door, along with a note that raised more questions than answers. The dog, later identified as Blu, had been left behind with food and water, but his owners were nowhere to be found.

Police officer talking on an intercom - Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Roy Morsch

As reported by Fox 5, the Fayette County Water and Sewer Department workers who found Blu immediately alerted the authorities. The workers found a note with the canine that read, "My name is Blu. My owner and I spent every day together for 4 1/2 years. But he died. I don’t have anyone else to take care of me. Thanks." What followed was an investigation that revealed more than anyone expected. Surveillance footage showed a couple leaving Blu at the location with food and water. While this raised suspicions, it wasn’t until a microchip scan that the truth began to emerge.

A woman writing a note. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Jupiter Images)

The microchip led investigators to the dog’s owners, and what they found was troubling. The Morrow couple, later identified as 73-year-old Kenneth Beshers and his wife Johanna Payne, were identified as the dog's original owners. But when the authorities attempted to reach them, they learned the couple had already left for a vacation in Maui, leaving Blu behind without any means of care. According to Tracy Thompson, Director of Fayette County Animal Control, the investigation took a bizarre turn. "They had to wait until they returned," she shared.

Dog tied with a chain resting close to a trunk of tree in the field - Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Jose A. Bernat Bacete — Dog tied with a chain resting close to a trunk of tree in the field . (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Jose A. Bernat Bacete)

“It was in the middle of the day on Sunday, most of the day on Sunday, and then all night until we got here on Monday morning,” she further mentioned during an interview with the outlet about how long the dog had to suffer alone in silence. While the shelter had been open on Sunday, Blu wasn’t brought in, raising suspicions about the couple’s intentions. It wasn’t until they returned from their trip that the couple was finally arrested. Authorities revealed the couple had turned themselves in for the offense. Both Beshers and Payne were later charged with animal cruelty and abandoning Blu, with investigators questioning why they chose to leave him in such a vulnerable position.

Blu, a well-behaved and sweet dog, was taken into care at the Fayette County Animal Shelter. Despite his abandonment, officials noted that he did not show any signs of aggression or distress, leading them to believe he had been well-treated up until that point. He’s the type of dog "a family would be lucky to have,” the officials shared. Blu is expected to be eligible for adoption once the case is resolved. The couple’s actions have sparked outrage in the community, with authorities reminding pet owners that abandoning an animal is a serious crime. “There are boarding facilities; you don’t have to dump your dog to go on vacation, and abandoning an animal is a crime,” said Thompson.