Dog Mutilated in Austin, Texas

By JESSICA VESS/KVUE News

A gruesome discovery at an Austin dumpster sparks outrage.

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A dog was found tied up in layers of black plastic bags. The woman who found the dog believes she was tortured, killed, and dumped.

“I wasn't expecting to find this,” said Vicki McCauley.

McCauley and some co-workers found the dog near the dumpster outside the Country Home Learning Center off Balcones Club Drive and North 183 two weeks ago.

“They thought it was a child's body. They pulled the blanket off it. They pulled the plastic off to realize it was a dog,” said McCauley.

McCauley took photos of the dog, since named Sweetie,  to show to animal cruelty investigators.

“Her paws you know were all bound up all tied up with a rope. The bag was all tied up as well,” said McCauley.

She doesn't know how long Sweetie had been at the dumpster. By the time McCauley found her there bugs were crawling around.

“To me it looks like a Pit Bull that was abused, tortured,” she said.

McCauley called Austin’s 311 for help. She was transferred to APD’s animal cruelty detective.

“The police officer said that he feels that this is just a decomposing animal. I don't feel that way,” said McCauley, “When I got the plastic off of the body and I looked at her it's like mmm-mmmm this is not okay. It's just...to me that is not decomposing.”

McCauley took it upon herself to unwrap the plastic bags. When she did, she says it looked like Sweetie's throat had been slit. Her paws were tied together with rope. McCauley believes someone burned Sweetie's face and back.

On Friday night, frusterated that the city’s investigation hadn’t turned up any suspects, McCauley joined about a dozen animal activists at the dumpster where Sweetie was abandoned.

“Personally I want to know who did this and why they did this and I want to seem them punished for it,” said Ernest Samudio.

The group laid flowers by the dumpster in Sweetie's honor.

“I just wanted her to know that not everybody is bad and mean and the horrible thing that happened to her was inexcusable,” said Cindy Marabito.

Armed with fliers, the group was ready to plaster the community with Sweetie’s story, hoping to find answers.

“I really want to know who did this to this animal. I think it's wrong,” said McCauley.

The Austin Police Department says its animal cruelty detective is investigating. Animal cruelty specialists with the city are also involved, but are still unsure whether Sweetie was abused and dumped or if her owners dropped her off at the dumpster after she died of natural causes.

PETA is offering a $2,500 reward for the person or people responsible.