OLYMPIA — Thurston County Animal Services is searching for a suspect in the sexual abuse and death of a dog in rural Thurston County.
The dog, a pit bull, was found dead hanging from a tree on Department of National Resources property on Monday, said Officer Erika Johnson, of Thurston County Animal Services. A mountain biker found the dog near the second Summit Lake Shore Road exit from State Route 8.
The dog was found hanging from a tree branch with her feet barely touching the ground. The dog was alive when it was hung, and she showed signs of sexual abuse.
“Something like this is not very common. This is horrific,” Johnson said. “Fortunately we don’t see something this heinous very often.”
The Humane Society of the United States and Pasados Safe Haven have offered up at $10,000 reward for information about the dog.
“To think about the suffering this dog experienced in her final moments, as well as knowing there’s an individual or individuals in our state who would perpetrate this type of abuse, is sickening. We are hopeful this reward will bring someone forward with information about this despicable crime,” said Dan Paul, the Humane Society’s Washington director.
Johnson said that if a suspect is located, they will likely be charged with first-degree animal cruelty, a class C felony. If the suspect is convicted, they could serve jail time. In the 2006 legislative session, animal cruelty laws were amended to include bestiality.
Anyone with information about the dog’s death is asked to call Johnson at 360-352-2510.
