Apr 26, 2007 5:00 pm US/Eastern
Dog Found Tortured, Mutilated In N.J. Woods Todd Quinones
Reporting
(CBS 3) VINELAND, N.J. Officials in South Jersey are investigating a cruel and extreme case of animal abuse that some SPCA workers have called the worst case they have ever seen.
Authorities fear that the attack is so violent, the dog's killer could turn to people.
The dog's mouth was duct-taped shut, duct-tape was placed around the dog's legs and his tongue was cut off and he was gutted like a deer.
The dog is being called "Justice" by the animal shelter officials.
"It was a protracted act of violence, torture, and mutilating of the body; it is a special kind of sick," Bev Greco of the Cumberland County SPCA said.
Greco said the dog's carcass was found by a school bus driver dumped off a highway in Fairfield Township, New Jersey.
"This is a very frightening thing and it should not be taken lightly," Greco said.
The horrific cruelty it took the kill the dog is reason enough for the entire community to be concerned, Greco said.
"This is just a precursor of possible acts of violence against humans," Greco said.
Greco and the New Jersey State Police are working on different theories for a possible motive.
The first is that it could some part of a twisted, ritualistic act or the other is that the person who killed Justice could have been looking for drugs.
"If the dog may have ingested someone's stash and they were trying to retrieve the drugs from the dog's body," Greco said.
Officials said Justice was a healthy German Shepherd, about four to five years old.
There is a $10,000 reward for information leading up to the successful prosecution of the killer.
If found, the person(s) responsible could face 18 months behind bars, a $10,000 fine and counseling.
