Justice for Dusty: Reward grows for information on Danbury ATV dog death

Dusty, the 4-year-old Husky-Labrador Retriever mix. Dusty, the 4-year-old Husky-Labrador Retriever mix. Photo: Contributed Photo / Danielle O'Rourke / EyJpdiI6InpyVGVyZnFlWVZEbzdCNHltQ0piVEE9PSIsInZhbHVlIjoiYU9rbENLZ0F0WmNLMDdiZUJoU0xma0VVZTZIU2drNm1ITDdjczdHaEFycGpCNlE5eEx0Q1Js Photo: Contributed Photo / Danielle O'Rourke / EyJpdiI6InpyVGVyZnFlWVZEbzdCNHltQ0piVEE9PSIsInZhbHVlIjoiYU9rbENLZ0F0WmNLMDdiZUJoU0xma0VVZTZIU2drNm1ITDdjczdHaEFycGpCNlE5eEx0Q1Js Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Justice for Dusty: Reward grows for information on Danbury ATV dog death 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

DANBURY — Community members are rallying behind the O’Rourke family to raise the reward for anyone with information that leads to the arrest of the ATV driver who hit and killed the O’Rourke’s dog, Dusty.

Around 7:50 p.m. Wednesday, 4-year-old Husky-Labrador Retriever mix Dusty was killed in the O’Rourkes front yard on Jackson Drive after someone riding a quad lost control, hit her and sped off.

Danielle O’Rourke told Hearst Connecticut Media on Friday that her family has been devastated by the loss of their beloved dog.

“I get that accidents happen, but you don’t just leave — you stop and take responsibility,” she said Friday. “It was a senseless death. It didn’t need to happen, and I don’t know how anybody can just have total disregard for life.”

The family announced they were offering a $500 cash reward to anyone who shares information that leads to the identification and arrest of the ATV driver who killed their dog.

But the community wanted to pitch in, prompting Danielle O’Rourke to create a GoFundMe campaign titled “Justice for Dusty.”

“So many people in the community have asked if they can donate to increase the reward amount,” O’Rourke wrote int he description of the fundraiser.

As of late Saturday afternoon, 24 donors had raised $1,030. The campaign page was created Friday night.