Puppy beaten, killed during break-in
Etowah, NC (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2000
County: Henderson

Disposition: Open

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Toby, an 18-week old Shih Tzu puppy was found apparently bludgeoned to death by an intruder.

Investigators have a suspect in the case who could be charged with felony cruelty to animals and breaking and entering, said Detective Scott Justus of the Henderson County Sheriff's Department.

Joy Elliott owner of the puppy said Toby had been staying at her boyfriend's house on Big Willow Road near Etowah. He left around noon and then he returned about 2:30 pm, found a window had been broken out and the door was open.

Just inside on the kitchen floor was Toby, blood coming from his mouth.

"He had a soft spot on his head where he had been hit with a blunt object, probably the same thing they used to break the window," Elliott said. Nothing else in the house had been disturbed or stolen.

A shovel handle will be sent to the State Bureau of Investigation to see if it can be matched to the dog.

Polly Navarro of the Henderson County Humane Society said she's never heard of someone breaking into a house to kill a pet. "I just can't undersatnd that," she said. "It sounds like some kind of a maniac to me. Therehas to be some reason"

References

• « NC State Animal Cruelty Map
  « More cases in Henderson County, NC

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