Sep 29, 2009 11:15 pm US/Eastern
Gloucester Family Wants Answers In Dog's Death
GLOUCESTER (WBZ) ―
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Otis, the yellow labrador
WBZ
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The Wood family created a grave site for Otis
WBZ
An act of cruelty leaves a beloved dog dead and has a Gloucester family wondering why.
Otis, an 80-pound, three-year-old yellow lab, was a gift to Tracy Wood from her parents. But the dog was so much more than a pet to this nine-year-old only child.
"He was like my brother," said Tracy.
Two weeks ago, Otis, and his running buddy Jackson, the dog next door, took off as they often do into the nearby woods. Tracy's dad, Tim, said the dogs were in there about two hours.
"We heard a little commotion out there, the dogs were barking," he recalled. "Maybe 15 minutes later, one dog (Jackson) popped out of the woods and Otis never came back."
They searched into the night, then all the next morning. They found Otis' body about 400 yards into the woods.
"He had massive injuries to his chest," said Gloucester Police Detective Steven Mizzoni.
The veterinarian confirmed Otis had suffered blunt trauma to his chest. Police say it was no accident.
"(There was) no evidence in the area that seemed to lead to an accidental death; (no) falling, (he was) not hit by a car, so we believe it was caused by somebody in the woods at that time," said Mizzoni.
The family says Otis would never hurt anyone or turn on them.
"He was a really, really nice dog," said Tim Wood. "Gentle. Great with kids, great with people."
Police are looking at hunters who use the woods. Otis' body was found near a pile of corn kernels used as bait for deer.
The family says they've had no problems with hunters before, but know the hunters don't like the dogs in the woods, chasing the deer.
Otis is buried near his family's home. Tracy invited a bunch of her friends to a funeral for her beloved Otis. She thinks whoever did this didn't mean to kill her dog, just scare him away, but either way, beating her dog was wrong.
"I don't think that's the right way to treat a dog even, if you don't want them to come back."
The
MSPCA is offering a $1000 reward for information leading to an arrest. You can call the MSPCA hotline 1-800-628-5808, or Gloucester Police 978-281-9753.
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