Community Corner
UPDATE: Dog Thought to Have Been Tortured May Have Been Struck By Car
Police in Savage say that the dog's injuries are consistent with getting hit by a vehicle—not a beating or stabbing—but writing on the dog's body remains a mystery.
An alleged animal abuse case has taken a strange turn. Friday afternoon, local authorities in Savage, MN released a statement positing that a dog previously thought to be the victim of torture had most likely been hit by a car.
Yesterday quickly spread over the web about Cesar, a pitbull that was allegedly taken from a fenced yard, beaten and tortured. The Savage PD confirmed that is was indeed investigating the case, but would not give any further details.
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Friday, the department broke its silence, stating that the case originated with a call that came in around 2:31 p.m. on July 25. The reporting party told police that two dogs had possibly been taken from a local family's yard and returned limping and bloody.
However, physical evidence and witness statements suggest that the dogs were not abducted, as originally supposed. It seems they escaped from the fenced enclosure. Witnesses reported seeing the dogs running at large.
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Furthermore, Cesar's injuries do not appear to be consistent with a beating or stabbing. Instead, it appears that the dog was hit by a car. One aspect of the case continues to elude investigators, however: The dog returned with writing on his body, which remains unexplained.
According to a report by FOX 9 News, the message "Back off Bob" was scrawled on the dog's back.
The investigation continues. The Savage Police Department asks anyone who may have pertinent information to contact them at 952-882-2600.
The case, and the social media explosion it engendered, generated an outpouring of support for the dog and his owners. The dog's owner, Robert Cole, is a dog trainer who specializes in calming aggressive dogs, the report said. Since his work frequently puts him in contact with Midwest Animal Rescue and Services, they paid his vet bill—and have established a fund to help cover costs. Anyone wishing to donate can make a contribution online.
Authorities have also offered a $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.
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