Case Details
Case Snapshot
Case ID: 15584
Classification: Mutilation/Torture, Burning - Fire or Fireworks, Fighting
Animal: dog (pit-bull)
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Animal was bound
Reward: $2,500
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Mutilated dog found near dumpster
Austin, TX (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Jun 22, 2009
County: Travis

Disposition: Open
Case Images: 1 files available

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

The dog's throat was cut, her paws were bound with rope, and her face had been set on fire. She was dead, lay wrapped in plastic and dumped unceremoniously next to a trash receptacle when Vickie McCauley stumbled upon her.

"This is torture worse than I've ever seen in my life," said McCauley. "And, I want whoever did this to know this is wrong! You can't go around doing things like this to animals."

McCauley called 311 as soon as she and her colleagues discovered the dog near the Dumpster at her work. But, she said that when the City came to investigate, they didn't even open the bag before determining the dog's owner had dumped it there once the dog died because they had nowhere else to put it.

That is when McCauley decided to do a little digging herself.

"I wasn't going to leave it," she said. "Whatever it was, I wasn't going to leave it until I investigated."

McCauley returned to the scene Monday night and unwrapped the bags. "It took me a few tries to get all of that off of her," she said, pointing to the heavy plastic bags and blanket that had been wrapped around the Pit Bull. "And, then I positioned her to where you can tell she had been spliced, because blood went everywhere."

The sight made McCauley vomit.

"If I think about what they did to her and she was alive," she said. "It makes me cry because it makes me so sad."

The Austin Police Department's Animal Cruelty unit hasn't yet determined this case as animal abuse. However, they have seen McCauley's pictures and have received a few tips from the plea for help McCauley posted on Craig's List.

While this case may never be solved, Dorinda Pulliam with the Town Lake Animal Center said McCauley made the right moves.

"If you even suspect animal neglect or abuse, we want you to report it," said Pulliam. "That is the only way we can stop this from happening."

Pulliam said the first step is to call 311.

According the the Austin Police Department, there have been 122 cases of reported animal cruelty in Austin since Jan. 1, 2008. Just in 2009, there have been 23 cases so far.

TLAC has classes on how to detect and report animal abuse, counting on citizens to help stop it before goes any further.

"We want people to treat it like any other crime," said Pulliam.

As of Tuesday, the dog was still in the Dumpster.

"I was told Sanitation wouldn't come get her until Wednesday morning," said McCauley. "What a horrible way for any living being to die."

If you have information on this case, please contact:
Austin Police Department
512-974-5000


Case Updates

A dog was found tied up in layers of black plastic bags. The woman who found the dog believes she was tortured, killed, and dumped.

"I wasn't expecting to find this," said Vicki McCauley.

McCauley and some co-workers found the dog near the dumpster outside the Country Home Learning Center off Balcones Club Drive and North 183 two weeks ago.

"They thought it was a child's body. They pulled the blanket off it. They pulled the plastic off to realize it was a dog," said McCauley.

McCauley took photos of the dog, since named Sweetie, to show to animal cruelty investigators.

"Her paws you know were all bound up all tied up with a rope. The bag was all tied up as well," said McCauley.

She doesn't know how long Sweetie had been at the dumpster. By the time McCauley found her there bugs were crawling around.

"To me it looks like a Pit Bull that was abused, tortured," she said.

McCauley called Austin's 311 for help. She was transferred to APD's animal cruelty detective.

"The police officer said that he feels that this is just a decomposing animal. I don't feel that way," said McCauley, "When I got the plastic off of the body and I looked at her it's like mmm-mmmm this is not okay. It's just...to me that is not decomposing."

McCauley took it upon herself to unwrap the plastic bags. When she did, she says it looked like Sweetie's throat had been slit. Her paws were tied together with rope. McCauley believes someone burned Sweetie's face and back.

On Friday night, frusterated that the city's investigation hadn't turned up any suspects, McCauley joined about a dozen animal activists at the dumpster where Sweetie was abandoned.

"Personally I want to know who did this and why they did this and I want to seem them punished for it," said Ernest Samudio.

The group laid flowers by the dumpster in Sweetie's honor.

"I just wanted her to know that not everybody is bad and mean and the horrible thing that happened to her was inexcusable," said Cindy Marabito.

Armed with fliers, the group was ready to plaster the community with Sweetie's story, hoping to find answers.

"I really want to know who did this to this animal. I think it's wrong," said McCauley.

The Austin Police Department says its animal cruelty detective is investigating. Animal cruelty specialists with the city are also involved, but are still unsure whether Sweetie was abused and dumped or if her owners dropped her off at the dumpster after she died of natural causes.

PETA is offering a $2,500 reward for the person or people responsible.
Source: KVUE - July 3, 2009
Update posted on Jul 5, 2009 - 6:22PM 

References

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