RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A second dog has been found dead in a garbage bag after being tied up and discarded near a walking trail in Richmond.
The community surrounding the Buttermilk Trail near Riverdale Drive has been left shaken after a second dog was found dead in a trash bag on Tuesday, April 30.
Tuesday’s gruesome discovery comes less than a week after another dog was found moments before death in the same kind of garbage bag in the same area.
Now Richmond Animal Care and Control (RACC) is looking into the gruesome discoveries and trying to figure out how to charge whoever is responsible for the incidents when they find them.
Investigators at the RACC told 8News that an investigation into both dogs that were dumped on the trail is ongoing, with the person who is found responsible facing the possibility of a felony charge.
People like Grace and Matthew say they walk their pets on Buttermilk Trail often and were confused when they first heard what happened as the area is usually peaceful.
“There’s just people walking around and enjoying their afternoons,” Matthew said.
However, Matthew said he’s heard about “weird stuff” happening in the area closer to sunset or after it’s gotten dark.
“I wouldn’t come down here at that time of day,” he said.
Jackie Prontze and her daughter, Nikki Bossie, have lived in the area for about a year and say they bring their dog to Buttermilk Trail all the time. They said they couldn’t imagine anyone doing something this horrible on purpose.
“I hate to think that someone would intentionally hurt a dog like that,” Prontze said.
Bossie agreed, saying she brings her own dog here often. From the perspective of a loving dog owner, this news has left her both shocked and sad.
“I’d like to know that, walking my dog around this place — I come here very often, [so] I’d like to know that we’re safe and our dog is safe,” Bossie said. “So I hope it’s not intentional.”
On Tuesday, April 30, RACC officers were on Buttermilk Trail when they discovered a 4-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier — better known as a pit bull — with cropped ears dead in a trash bag. Investigators say the dog looked to be dead for at least 24 hours.
Christy Chipps Peters with the RACC said that, unfortunately, this type of tragedy happens all too often.
“I mean, it’s it’s awful,” Peters said. “It’s a horrible situation. There’s just no really no words to describe it.”
Another dog the same age and type as the one found Tuesday was found in the same area — however, this one was alive at the time RACC offers found her. Unfortunately, she later died at the vet.
Peters said that, in this case, the person responsible for these tragedies could be facing a felony charge of animal cruelty and up to 5 years in prison.
Peters explained that, if someone dumped their dog after it had already died, that would be far less troubling. It would only be illegal if that dumping happened on public property.
“But putting a live dog in a garbage bag with the intent to kill it is cruelty,” she said.
Peters said there is never any reason for this to happen and that there are several ways to get help with your pet if you need it.
“There’s so many resources in the city to try and help you — no matter what it is and no matter what the reason, there is no excuse ever to put a live dog in a garbage bag and close it up,” Peters said. “That’s it’s just an act of savage cruelty.”
The RACC is actively investigating both of these incidents. They want anyone who may have information about what happened or knows something about either dog that was found to call them immediately.
You can contact RACC by phone at 804-646-5573 or by email at robert.leinberger@rva.gov.
