Volunteer sandbaggers in Dawson Saturday stumbled upon evidence of a sickening case of animal cruelty when two dogs, each is a separate garbage bag, were plucked from the flood waters near the bridge over the Raccoon River.
The animals had been shot, according to an eye witness.
“The one pup that you see sticking out of the bag was shot just under his jaw,” the witness said. “Inside the bag was a collar that had been cut off and just thrown into the bag with it, no tags.”
Among the volunteer sandbaggers in Dawson were members of the Perry Volunteer Fire Department and a Dallas County Sheriff’s Deputy. The deputy took pictures of the dead animals and opened an investigation of the incident.
“Obviously, somebody north of us placed them in the water,” said Dallas County Chief Deputy Sheriff Adam Infante. “We don’t have any other information on it. We have ideas. We’re not done working on it by any means, but we just don’t have any more information to give you at this time.”
The bags were found near the shore, the witness told ThePerryNews.com. The bags were not attached to one another but were found in close proximity, leading the witness to surmise the animals were dumped into the river nearby to where they were found.
“It had to be close by because the bags were not tied together,” the witness said, “yet we found them in the same location. With the river moving that fast, there is not much chance they would have stayed together.”
The animals were examined at the scene.
“They looked like border collies, young, but not pups,” said the witness. “They looked healthy — good teeth and coats — except for the trauma. Somebody took care of these dogs, so I can’t imagine the owners would do this. They were good looking dogs.”
The dogs were brought to Perry on the back of a firetruck and then taken into custody by the Perry Police Department. Volunteers from the police and fire departments later buried the animals. It is unknown whether the animals were checked for microchips prior to burial.
“We put them on the back of the truck and drove them over here and gave them to the police department,” said Perry Volunteer Fire Department Chief Chris Hinds. “One was a border collie, and the other was some kind of mix but had some collie in it. They’d obviously been shot and then put in a bag and dumped in the river.”
Reaction to the murderous cruelty was strong.
“The pictures are sad to look at,” the witness said, “but these two little pups deserved better.”
“It pisses you off that somebody’d do something like that,” Hinds said. “This should make whoever did it stop and think, ‘I didn’t get away with it. The results were found.’ It might make them think twice about doing it again.”
“That’s absolutely disgusting,” said Dawson Mayor Breanna Morman, who is also the former president of the recently dissolved Humane Society of Perry. “I cannot fathom doing such a thing.”
“You never know,” the witness said. “A pissed-off neighbor or teenager could have done this and thrown the dogs into the river to get rid of them.”
The investigation by the Dallas County Sheriff’s office is ongoing, Infante said.
“We’ll do some more checking and check with our neighbors to the north and west and go from there,” he said.
Is there away can see full picture of the dogs (pups)? Was one of the other dogs light brown in color with white, and was it a female? And were both of those dogs female? Please, please, let me know. I would like to help if I can. I am upset to see this.
David- the ARL link to the Dallas County Sheriff post shows some markings for both dogs: https://bit.ly/2FzPY3t Do they appear to be dogs you recognize? If so, please call the number in the post.
Please find out who did this to these innocent pups. Do not drop this investigation. Be the dogs’ voice. This is so sad, and the dogs deserved so much more.
I WOULD FIND THE EVIL MINDED TRASH INHUMANE NO GOOD HUMANS THAT DID THIS TO THESE POOR HELPLESS INNOCENNT DOGS! AND I WOULD DO THE SAME DAM THING TO THEM! AND I MEAN EVERY DARN WORD I SM SAYING! THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF FINE! NOR JAIL TIME! THAT WILL EVER JUSTIFY! FOR WHAT THESE INHUMANE EVIL MONSTERS DID TO THESE POOR DOGS! MY GOD THIS IS HORRIFIC! DEAR GOD PLEASE INTERVENE.
I am just so saddened by the treatment of animals and lack of stricter laws. Please continue to investigate! This cruelty has to stop!
The precious babies look like Shelties to me. I’m on my second Sheltie. I’m purchasing a third one (puppy) in 2 months. Shelties are the sweetest dogs, wonderful companions, and very intelligent. I’ll hug my Madison a little more snugly tonight. I’m angered and saddened by this act of cruelty. I’m glad there’s a monetary reward. That might help. Please, persevere until the monster(s) is/are caught. I hope they rot in hell!