Dane County Authorities Seek Info In Puppy’s Death

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help as it investigates the death of a dog in the Town of Rutland that occurred last week.

Dane County Animal Services officers said they have no leads in the case. Meanwhile, a dog lover has contributed money for information leading to an arrest in the case.

Investigators found a chocolate-colored Labrador retriever puppy on the side of County Road A, near Bass Lake Road, on Thursday afternoon. Authorities said that the dog’s front and rear legs were bound with packaging tape and his head was covered by a taped plastic bag.

“This is a unique case in my career,” said Juday, who has been a humane officer for 25 years. “But people never cease to amaze in the new and unique ways they do things to other people or animals.”

The stretch of County Road A where sheriff’s deputies found the dog dead has few residents. Two people who were home Monday said they did not know much about the crime, other than through media reports.

As the investigation continued, a Dane County Humane Society volunteer gave $300 to start a reward fund, asking for information in the case.

“We’re hopeful that establishing this fund will help bring some awareness and help get some information that can help lead to the arrest of the people involved,” said Gayle Viney, a Humane Society spokeswoman.

Those who wish to donate may visit the shelter’s website at www.giveshelter.org.

The puppy was between 3 and 6 months old, authorities said. The case is especially disturbing to those who care for dogs every day, Viney said.

“If someone did that to an animal, who knows what they would do to other animals or other people,” she said. “It’s just a really horrible case.”

Officers said they had few leads about who put the dog in the roadside ditch, or how it got there. The rural crime scene makes it more difficult, because there were no witnesses who’ve come forward, Juday said.

“We don’t know yet whether this dog belonged to the person who did it or was taken from someone else or (it) was found as a stray,” she said. “It could’ve been any of those things — there’s no way to know.”

Investigators said that anyone with information should call the Sheriff’s Office at 608-284-6900.