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Cops: one of dead puppies dumped was burned
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Police say one of two dead puppies they found under a South Side overpass Tuesday afternoon appeared to have been set on fire.
Meanwhile, a brother and sister who live near the overpass, which is on East Delason Avenue, say it is a frequent occurrence for people to leave dead dogs under the bridge, oftentimes in garbage bags.
Police were called there about 4:30 p.m. for a report of puppies being dumped and found the two dead dogs. Reports said one of the dogs appeared to have been burned, and an aerosol can was on top of its body.
Humane agents took the dogs and also are investigating.
A 14-year-old boy and his sister who live nearby said people have been using the overpass as a dumping ground for dead animals for years.
“They carry them in bags all over the place, all the time,” the sister said.
Both said they call the police whenever they see it, and police respond every time.
The 14-year-old said, “I don’t know why someone would do that,” he said. “That’s sad.”
Kim Woodburn, an investigator for the Humane Society, said tests showed the dog that was burned was a 9-week-old pitbull mix and died from the burns.
She said the rate of decomposition showed that the puppy had been there for some time. She said it appears the other puppy had been placed there at a different time, based on its rate of decomposition. She said she thinks the deaths are unrelated.
Tests have not been done on that dog yet to determine how it died, Woodburn said.
She added that she has not heard of the site as a dumping ground for animals. She said there is one on the East Side she has been watching, but this is the first time she heard of a dumping ground on the South Side.
Woodburn said anyone with information may call her at 330-788-1064, ext. 17.