SAMUEL VARGO, Fayette County Animal Control Officer, accused of killing two lost dogs

- Pennsylvania, USA -

On September 5, 2025, Fayette County Animal Control Officer 60-year-old SAMUEL VARGO (pictured), responded to the Fort Mason Village Housing in Masontown after receiving a report about two dogs who were tied to a pole.

The dogs were a female Husky named Luna and a female Boxer named Roxie.

VARGO attempted to scan the dogs to see whether they had a microchip, but his scanner had a low battery and could not verify that, so he left and took Luna and Roxie with him.

Per Pennsylvania state law, an animal needs to be held for 48 hours before they're euthanized, unless the dog is severely injured and a vet gives permission. If a dog is microchipped like Luna and Roxie were, they're to be held for 10 days.

Instead, the Masontown Police Department alleged VARGO admitted he took the dogs to his home and the next day he shot them in the head, killing them.

The police later found Luna and Roxie’s tags between their shoulder blades and they were active. By the evening of September 6, 2025, Luna and Roxie’s guardians, Bransen A.J. McKay and Lara Mickey, were located.

Lara and Bransen told CBS News they left Luna and Roxie at home to go to a high school football game and when they returned home at about 10:00 p.m., the dogs were gone.

Lara and Bransen then posted pictures of Luna and Roxie on their Facebook accounts and asked members of the community if they had seen their dogs.  

On September 7, 2025, part of a Facebook post published by Bransen read: “Masontown Borough police have officially notified us that my dogs were euthanized this morning 9-6-25 by Sam Vargo from “Animal Control”. 

Lara has created a petition to get justice for Luna and Roxie.

VARGO is the contracted Animal Control Officer for Masontown and is also listed as the ACO for more than a dozen municipalities in three counties.

VARGO was charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, two counts of cruelty to animals and tampering with evidence, and one count of obstructing the administration of law.

He is free on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

Court records show a preliminary hearing will take place on October 15, 2025, at 3:30 p.m.

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In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

Luna and Roxie's pictures shared from Bransen A.J. McKay's Facebook account.

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