Andrea Rosebrock 
“This is torture worse than I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Vickie McCauley. “And, I want whoever did this to know this is wrong! You can’t go around doing things like this to animals.”
Vickie is talking about the gruesome discovery she and some co-workers made on June 22. Near a dumpster outside the Country Home Learning Center off Balcones Club Drive and North 183 in Austin, TX, was a plastic bagged wrapped bundle. At first they feared it was a child and started unwrapping the bundle only to find the bound, burned and mutilated body of a female pitbull.
“Her paws you know were all bound up all tied up with a rope. The bag was all tied up as well,” said McCauley. “To me it looks like a Pit Bull that was abused, tortured.”
When McCauley called authorities, they made a quick determination that it was just a decomposing canine body that an owner must have wrapped up and thrown away.
“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.”
That was when McCauley decided to look a little closer herself. “I wasn’t going to leave it,” she said. “Whatever it was, I wasn’t going to leave it until I investigated.”
Removing the plastic bags and blanket the dog was wrapped in, she found the dog’s paws were bound, her face and back had been burned and her throat had been slit.
Austin police are investigation but haven’t seemed to come to a conclusion whether the dog was abused or just dumped by her owner after she died.
I haven’t heard of a dog being burned, bound, and cut as dying of natural causes ever before. Doesn’t seem to me like it would take too much to determine that this was a cruel and vicious killing, a case of abuse.
Disappointed that the investigation has basically gone no where so far, McCauley christened the dog “Sweetie” and she a a group of other animal activists held a small memorial and laid flowers for her at the dumpster where she was abandoned.
“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.
And of course, they want justice for Sweetie!
“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.
“I really want to know who did this to this animal. I think it’s wrong,” said McCauley.
Austin PD needs to take the time too look into this further and determine the cause of Sweetie’s death. This crime cannot be pushed under the carpet. Whoever did this is a danger. If they would do this to an innocent and defenseless animal, what about the next victim? Animal abuse and interpersonal violence is a well documented fact and even if people look at this with the sad mentality that “it’s just a dog,” what about next time? Animal abuse must be taken seriously!! The person who did this must be caught and punished!
A $2500 reward has been put forth for information in this crime.
If you have information on this case, please contact: Austin Police Department 512-974-5000. I think we also need to contact them to make sure they are actually investigating and taking this seriously!
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Depraved POSs need punishment to fit this crime.
how about the death penalty , would you mind?
Death is too generous, and quick
It would eliminate many pit bull deaths , and this persons life is worthless , so death would be good
Oh this makes me so sick. Poor poor Sweetie. What the hell is wrong with people to hog tie a dog, burn them, and slit their throat? Sick SOB bastards. Oh the Austin PD needs to further investigate this.
Link to send an email: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/connect/email_apd3.htm
Police Chief’s name: Chief of Police Art Acevedo
I plan on writing him an email right now.
Thanks for the link and info Susie. Was going to add it but you’ve saved me the trouble of looking it up.
D.
Yes, thanks for an email addy. I will be demanding a necropsy and an investigation. I hope it’s not too late!
I got an email back from them, and they said that the dog was not burned, nor was its throat cut. I have copied what they sent me from my email:
“Sorry for your mis-information. The dog was not burned nor was its
throat cut. The paws were tied but there is no evidence that shows that
the paws were tied before the dog died. An investigation uncovered some
information about the dog and how it came to be in the dumpster. If
there was evidence to show that some law had been violated and a viable
suspect could be identified, charges would have been filed.”
SO, shall we flood them with emails? This looked to me like a form email, as it had no reference to my name anywhere.
Funny how this woman who found the dog took pictures of burns and a slit throat, blood covered blanket and dog…. kind of makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
D.
I think that is what got me. I have always respected officers of the law, but this makes me think that they really don’t give a hoot that it is a dog. I wonder if they have talked to that woman who found the dog? Too bad we don’t have an email address for her. Wonder if we should write the television station that aired the story…..
This dog most likey, lost a fight. I want these scumbags caught & punished too. Texas animal cruelty laws are a DISGRACE. I am a native Texan and I am ashamed.
If you are a Texan reading this blog, and you are disturbed by it’s content, it is your responsibility to speak up and be heard to effect change in your community! If you are not calling, writing, emailing and faxing your local governments, YOU are part of the problem. Ignorance, denial and inaction EQUAL consent. C’mon Texas get off your butts and make a stand. This is our Alamo!
*applause, applause* Excellent!! You are so right! Now if only people will listen!
D.
No dog should have to suffer such pain and confusion when all they want is to please us, which is why this poor breed is so abused – they are so dedicated and loyal and try to do what these horrible people want, only to live a life of suffering and fear and loneliness. The agony this dog felt is NO DIFFERENT than what you or I would feel in the same situation, and it is not fair that people think it’s okay when it’s “just a dog”. Abusing a dog is EXACTLY the same as abusing a child – they both depend on us for care and affection and have no choice but to accept what someone does to them. It’s even worse because there is confusion in that they can’t understand why they’re being hurt or punished – at least an adult human would understand that the abuser is wrong. The laws need to be more strict to keep this from happening. What a sad life this dog lived only to die a lonely painful death.
These poor dogs are abused because they are dog of choice for fighters or gangs , the lowest form of scum God created . What are the chances of catching this pos really .What kind of waste can do this , I know I could actually do this to him and enjoy it , I really believe jail is not a deterrent , where do you think they come from
Poor little Sweetie … may she R.I.P.!
All these hideous crimes will … unfortunately … continue to happen due to the lack of severe punishment to all the monsters who torture smaller beings out of pleasure. The fault … besides being theirs (they are but a bunch of cowards and “mental paraplegics”!)belongs also to the moron,irresponsible and heartless judges who let them free with a “wink of the eye”.
What about the e-mail that Susie got saying: “Sorry for your mis-information. The dog was not burned nor was its
throat cut. The paws were tied but there is no evidence that shows that
the paws were tied before the dog died.”…
This absolutely contradict Vickie McCauley’s photos and words! How is it possible that officers of the law have their eyes shut? Are they all blind or … are they part of what happened to poor little Sweetie. I wonder …
Gina, I do not get it – I hate to think that they are a part of this. That would make me dislike and not honor the words of a police officer. I wonder if Vickie McCauley had shown the police the photos, and what their explanantion of the slit throat and burns are from. I hope that the people who are activists and laid flowers for poor Sweetie at the dumpster have their opinions heard.
Oh man! By naming her, Sweetie, to boot, put me in tears. The story had me in tears, then they gave her that wonderful name she so deserved BEFORE she was murdered! We know, by what Susie said, the police are full of S***! That poor little girl went through hell and the individuals responsible need to pay! Damn! This frys my arse! Just yesterday, I stopped on my horse to talk to someone with an out of control 3 yr old female Pitty. He told me he has had her since she was 1 mo old. and really hasn’t socialized her. This pup was litterly terrified of my horses! Unsure of Sage or myself. While he was TRYING to control her, he was chocking her! That was the only time I got mad at him. Told him to quit chocking her! Talk to her, calmly, and tell her it’s alright and pet her and hold her. She’s scared! For pitty’s sake! Told him he needs to really, calmly and kindly work with her. That seeing this kind of Pitty out and about, is what gives people the wrong opinion of this beautiful breed. This all stemed from another equestrian coming into the ranch complaining about a Pittbull out there being very mean looking towards her horse. I try, every time I see this kind of situation to explain to both parties, the true greatness of the Pitty. We need to eduacate people on this wonderfully, sweet dog and not just close our eyes to these situations when given the opportunity to try and make the world see this as a very good dog.
I received this email back from my email in which I included a sentence that from what I read, they are trying to cover this up even though the photos don’t lie, which makes them look bad:
“Thank you for your concern. This case has been assigned to our Animal Cruelty Detective and is being investigated.
Sergeant Richard Stresing
Austin Police Department
Public Information Office
(512) 974-5017″
I’d like to find contacts and addresses to send letters to.
Debbie, at least you got something that did not make you out to be a looney toons! And with someone’s name to boot!
I received the same response. At least they heard from us.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Sweetie
I received this back from the Sergeant. I believe PETA is involved and is helping with a reward.
“You may write letters to:
Town Lake Animal Center
Attn: Animal Cruelty Officer
PO Box 1088
Austin, TX 78767
Sergeant Stresing
—–Original Message—–
From: Debbie
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 9:30 AM
To: APD PIO
Subject: RE: apd3 – Dog tortured and killed
Thank you for your response Sergeant Stresing – please try to look at this realistically and see how sad it is that these poor dogs are so helpless in that they are stuck in the life their owners make for them. They need us to speak for them – they cannot call 911 or ask for help. It’s not fair for a dog to be born into a life of fear and abuse, only to die alone and never knowing what life should be like. It just breaks my heart. Their pain is no different than it would be for you or me or any child. You can see it in the eyes of these poor dogs. We need to change the laws to keep this from happening.
If you could give me the names of who I can write letters to for support of the investigation, please do – thanks so much…have a good day…
—–Original Message—–
From: APD PIO [mailto:Police3@ci.austin.tx.us]
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 10:23 AM
To: Debbie
Subject: RE: apd3 – Dog tortured and killed
Thank you for your concern. This case has been assigned to our Animal Cruelty Detective and is being investigated.
Sergeant Richard Stresing
Austin Police Department
Public Information Office
(512) 974-5017
Oh, and I did sign the petition too. It’s just sad that we can’t do anything to help poor Sweetie.