Augusta County authorities and the owners of a 60-pound male Keeshond are seeking answers after a Stuarts Draft family discovered the animal dead from a stab wound.
Animal Control Officer Gary Webb said he found the dog at a Patriot Drive home in Shenandoah Valley Estates, slumped along the fence line in the family’s backyard, still tethered to his chain, Webb said.
There are no suspects at this time, he said.
Webb sent the dog to the Augusta Regional Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for a necropsy Thursday, the day the family alerted authorities to the animal’s death. A report Friday confirmed the pet had been killed by a stab wound, he said.
“It happened in a really secluded place, which is unfortunate,” Webb said. “There were only two trailers that could have seen it, and one person was away at work and the other person was an elderly lady.”
Webb said he interviewed several neighbors and learned more about the animal, but found nothing that might lead to a suspect.
“The dog was a barker, shall we say. Several people have said that they heard the dog bark a lot,” Webb said. “It was a vicious attack, I feel like, on the dog.”
Because of the size of the dog, Webb said he believes someone might have assisted in the killing.
“That’s my gut feeling,” he said. “Because of the evidence that I’ve looked at.”
The dog was well fed, Webb said. The animal’s owners said he was fine around 8 a.m. Thursday, Webb said.
“This is not good and we would definitely pursue [leads] if we have any more information,” he said.
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