DINWIDDIE COUNTY, Va. -- Animal Control officers have a mystery on their hands after eight hunting dogs were found dead Off Hobbs Mill Road in Dinwiddie County.
Eight dogs were found dead on Saturday. Five of them had been mauled and three had been shot.
The dogs were found in the dense woods off 460 near Wilsons in Dinwiddie.
The dogs were found in the dense woods off 460 near Wilsons in Dinwiddie.
"
Dinwiddie Animal Control Officer Alvin Langely said that the animals were fond within a 400 to 500-yard radius.
Animal control officers also said that what makes things so bizarre is that the dogs’ bodies were found in sets of two and three left close to each other.
"The ones that were mauled, we've sent to the state lab to see if they were shot before they were attacked," Langely said.
Dinwiddie Animal Control Officer Alvin Langely.
All eight dogs were hunting dogs wearing GPS devices and their deaths are alarming to those who live just a block from Hobbs Mill Road.
"It's weird that some were shot and some were mauled,” said Bonnie Elzey, who said she's had to chase stray dogs from her property after they cornered her cat. "They chased her up a tree and killed one of her kittens," she said Monday.
Bonnie Elzey's Cat.
Even though it's in an area known to have coyote, Langley said it is unlikely a coyote attacked the dogs, and that certainly wouldn't explain how the three were shot. He says the investigation is ongoing.
"We've got something going on,” Langely said. “We haven't figured it out yet, so keep an eye on your pets, and hunters keep an eye on your dogs."
Animal Control officers said the hunting dogs found dead had been allowed on the property and said their handlers had permission. Officials also pointed out that shooting a dog is felony animal abuse.
If you know anything or saw anything suspicious, call Dinwiddie Animal Control at 804-469-3755.
