Dog tied to train tracks decapitated by train Kalamazoo, MI (US) Incident Date: Saturday, Nov 17, 2001 County: Kalamazoo Local Map: available Disposition: Open Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Case ID: 3982 Classification: Mutilation/Torture Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in MI (US) Reward: $500 Login to Watch this Case

A woman walking along the railroad tracks with her 6-year old son looking for fossils came upon a grisly sight of a dog tied to Norfolk & Southern Railroad track. The dog had been decapitated by a passing train.

The Kalamazoo Humane Society is offering a $500 reward for the conviction of the person or persons who tortured the dog. "Due to the nature of the dog's injury and the fact that it would be extremely difficult for the dog's collar to become accidentally stuck on the rail, the Kalamazoo Humane Society feels foul pay may have occurred," said Aaron Winters, Humane Society executive director.

The dog's body was found about 370 yards south of Cork Street near Monarch Mill Pond in Kalamazoo Milwood neighborhood. The dog's head was lying west of the tracks and the rest of its body was between the rails. The dog also had a broken collar and a crushed rear foot.

After the woman called the Humane Society, Winters went to the scene. Beside the dog, he found "zip strips" and wire that he thought could have been used to fasten the dog's collar to the tracks.

Winters took the large white mixed-breed to the Animal Health and Diagnostic Laboratory at Michigan State University. An autopsy showed the dog was alive when it was decapitated. An anatomical liver scan was being done because the vet found a fresh needle mark in the dog's leg.

Train officials said the incident may have happened between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. Monday and they would question engineers. Train speeds in that area range from 30 mph to a crawl. They are hoping someone will provide more information.

Winters has said people who abuse and torture animals move on to abuse and hurt human beings "unless their cycle of violent behavior is stopped by prosecution or imprisonment."

Persons with information are asked to call the Humane Society at 345-1181 or e-mail Aaron Winters at [email protected].

If you have information on this case, please contact:
Aaron Winters, Humane Society
[email protected]
388-8417

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References

Kalamazoo Gazette - Nov 18, 2001

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