Case Snapshot
Case ID: 13397
Classification: Mutilation/Torture
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Animal was offleash or loose
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Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008

County: James City

Disposition: Open

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Authorities say a six-month-old rottweiler puppy disappeared for an hour Tuesday and came home with no tail.

"This puppy was laying on the front porch, and I went over and its tail had been severed at the base of its tail," said Miss Prissy's owner. "It was all bloody."

The owner called police while her son wrapped a blanket around the puppy to stop the bleeding.

She told Animal Control officers the dog disappeared from the family's backyard for only an hour, and she believes whoever hurt her dog probably wanted to keep it.

Veterinarian Dr. Meredith Averitt of the Toano Animal Clinic says cutting off a puppy's tail should be done before the puppy's eyes are open. "Usually we do it at three to five days of age with local anesthesia."

"Actually, they did a surprisingly good job," she said of Miss Prissy's missing tail. "Whatever they used must have been very sharp, and I think they got it in one whack, not like they were sawing on her for minutes. They took it off. It came off cleanly."

James City County authorities are investigating the incident as a case of animal cruelty, and are looking for whoever committed the cruel crime.

"It was inhumane for the puppy to have its tail cut off," said Animal Control Supervisor Shirley Anderson.

Dr. Averitt agreed, saying that though rottweilers have a high pain tolerance, the puppy probably yelped and screamed for mercy.

If you have any information on this case, please call authorities.

References

  • « VA State Animal Cruelty Map
    « More cases in James City County, VA

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