Wednesday, January 9, 2007

SPCA Investigates Dog's Fatal Stabbing With Screwdriver
Investigators said they need the public's help to solve a case of animal cruelty

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals wants to know who used a screwdriver to stab a dog to death in Upper Township.

Authorities said the dog's killing was a violent, heinous act. Its body was discovered dumped in the woods, surrounded by medical equipment."She was found right in that patch right there," said Liam Hughes, an animal control officer."It had three holes in its head, and it was bludgeoned to death," Hughes said.

The small, 2-year-old brown female pit bull terrier mix with a white spot on her chest was discovered Christmas Day in as wooded area at the end of New Jersey Avenue.
"We have three dogs of our own," said Aaron Segin, who lives on the street where the dog was found."It upsets me real bad. My stomach's cramped up and everything. It was bad," Segin said.Experts think the dog was in good health before it was killed.

"It's one of those things that takes your breath away. You can't believe that someone would do something like this," Hughes said.

But, in a puzzling twist, veterinary equipment was strewn around her body.
"We found the dog covered in medical tape, had an IV catheter in it and shaved paw, so it looked like somebody was trying to give it medical care," Hughes said. "She had food in her stomach, her nails were trimmed, her ears were clean. This was somebody's pet. The dog had no scars on it. This was not related to fighting dogs."

Investigators believe the animal was killed a day or two before it was found. They discovered tire tracks -- possibly from a van or large truck -- leading away from the dog's dumped body.
Now, they want your help to track the culprit down.

"This is going to be on my plate until we can find out who did this," Hughes said. "Nobody's pet, nobody's animal, no living creature should suffer like this."The dog did not have any tags or other identifying information. If you know who owned the dog or have any information that can help investigators, call the New Jersey SPCA at 888-582-5979.

Story courtesy of: NBC10 (http://www.nbc10.com/news/15015201/detail.html?dl=mainclick)