Dog's body found in garbage bag; police investigating foul play

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

A passerby discovered the dog near the corner of Burdeck and North Thompson streets.

ROTTERDAM — Police discovered the body of a severely neglected dog Tuesday, and they’re asking the public for help in identifying the owner.

The dog is described as a male Shih Tzu or Lhasa Apso, tan and white, about 2 to 3 years old and weighing between 15 and 20 pounds. A necropsy has been scheduled to determine what caused the dog’s death.

A passerby discovered the dog at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, near the corner of Burdeck and North Thompson streets. The pedestrian spotted a black garbage bag partially ripped open, revealing what appeared to be a dog’s paw protruding.

A responding animal control officer determined the dog had been severely neglected; its hair was severely matted, and its nails were unclipped, police said.

The officer also found evidence of trauma to the dog’s head, and two of its legs appeared to have been dislocated, police said.

The injuries did not appear to be from a car accident, police spokesman Lt. Michael Brown said.

The state of the dog’s remains suggests to police the remains might have been there maybe a day or two, Brown said. The location suggests someone driving by discarded the remains.

Police have the bag in their possession and could send that out for testing, too, in hopes it might provide clues to whoever discarded it, Brown said.

Police are looking to the necropsy to determine whether the dog was killed. The necropsy is to be performed at Cornell University.

“Regardless of whether or not the dog was killed intentionally,” Brown said, “it did have some signs of severe neglect. If this isn’t a case of a person intentionally killing a dog, it’s certainly a case of neglect.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Rotterdam police at 355-7397.