Here we go again...- animal cruelty case

[Tiffany]

(Cayce) - Cayce Department of Public Safety say they need your help in solving an animal cruelty case.

Officers say that they responded to a report of trespassing at the abandoned Cayce Grammar School, on Lexington Avenue, around 11:30 a.m. on December 9th. Authorities say that a witness had reported that four black males, possibly teenagers, were seen running from the school before the officers arrived.

Officers say they found what looked like a young labrador and pit bull mix dog that appeared to have ben tortured and set on fire. They say the animal had a black leather collar with small silver Scottish Terrier emblems on it.

The dog was deceased upon the officer's arrival.

Detective Mark Browder says they are looking for the people who were seen running from the scene. Browder says they believe some or all of the people were wearing red shirts. They may have been walking the dog on Friday, December 8th.

Browder says it's unclear if the incident is gang related, but there was gang graffiti found at the scene.

Leroy Kelly lives in the neighborhood where the dog was found. He says this shouldn't have happened to an innocent dog.

Kelly said, "It makes me feel real sad. I'm an animal person."

Humane Society Director, Joshua Gowans says animal cruelty cases like this are happening more frequently.

Gowans said, "I think this is the third or fourth case of torture and mutilation like this that we've seen over the last six months."

He says cases like this are hard to solve because there are usually not many witnesses.

Gowans said, "It's terrible. We see different types of cruelty but intentional torture and mutilation is horrendous."

He says everyone should be concerned, even if you aren't a pet lover.

Gowans said, "I think there's a conclusive link between animal cruelty and cruelty to people."

It's a conclusion that Kelly has already made.

Kelly added, "They'll do a human being the same way if they did that to a dog."

Any person with information about the incident or the the owner of the dog is asked to contact Cayce Department of Public Safety at 794-0456.

[Missi]

I...just do not understand people that do this kind of stuff. They aren't human to me. *shakes head*

[Baby5566]

What a terrible bunch of people! How sad :( Poor baby.

[glider]

I would get in trouble for saying what I think about those kind of people.

[Conure & Macaw Mom]

There were a few kids here that got into trouble for putting a tiny puppy into a microwave & blowing him up. I can't believe what some sick people will do. Crystal