Dog stolen, badly injured Grand Rapids, MI (US) Incident Date: Tuesday, Sep 21, 2004 County: Kent Local Map: available Disposition: Open Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help! Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 2800 Classification: Fighting, Theft Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in MI (US) Reward: $5,000 Login to Watch this Case

A Doberman pinscher disappeared from the yard of a Grand Rapids Township home and returned home badly injured on Sept 21, 2004. The 2 year old dog, named Max, had multiple puncture wounds, blood squirting from the his legs as he walked.

The puncture wounds, consistent with dog bite marks, pierced his shoulder, chest and back. One of his legs was dislocated. There was blood in his left lung. 

Kent County sheriff's detectives are investigating it as a case of animal cruelty. Based on Max's injuries, Weckwert believes someone lured the dog away from her home, tortured him and forced him to fight another animal.

It was last Wednesday morning when Max returned home to collapse on Linda and Larry Weckwert's front porch in the 2500 block of Knapp Street NE. The dog was missing less than 24 hours.

Max's owner, Linda Weckwert, is offering a $1,000 reward through Silent Observer to catch the offenders.

"He was laying by the door and didn't have the strength to go any further," Linda Weckwert said. "He was pitiful. He was wetting himself, walking on three legs and crying."

"I've got to lay with my puppy and keep him well. He is about as close to zero as you can get," she said.

The dog disappeared about 1 p.m. on Sept. 21, around the same time she told two teens she didn't recognize to stop skateboarding down her driveway.

One of the teens seemed unafraid of the dog, which moved when the teen told him to, Weckwert said.

Once the teens were out of sight, Weckwert realized she couldn't find her dog. She tried sending a shock to Max's training collar, but the 85-pound dog did not return. Because he's friendly, Weckwert worried he might have followed if someone had called to him.

Weckwert spent hours searching her neighborhood. One resident told her she had seen the dog with three young men about 1:30 p.m. They were described as having skateboards and spiked, Mohawk-style hair, which matched the description of the two teens Weckwert had talked to earlier, sheriff's officials said.

When Max limped home the next morning, Weckwert said she rushed him to an emergency animal clinic, but the dog's injuries were too severe for the clinic.

She drove him to Michigan State University's veterinary clinic. They make return visits there every two days as the dog's recovery continues. Her veterinary bills are nearing $3,000.

"He can't walk. The leg that was dislocated has the worst bite wounds. He's lost quite a bit of blood," she said.

While Weckwert believes her dog was forced to fight, sheriff's officials say there have been no nearby dog-fighting complaints.

If arrested, the suspects could be charged with animal cruelty. The misdemeanor carries a possible penalty of up to 93 days in jail, a $1,000 fine and 2,000 hours of community service, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Roger Parent said.

If you have information on this case, please contact:
Silent Observer
(616) 774-2345

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References

	WOODTV - Oct 8, 2004
	WZZM - Sept 29, 2004
	The Grand Rapids Press - Sept 30, 2004

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