Police: Tale about puppy tossed in river false

Story fabricated to avoid paying fee, police say

JANESVILLE, Wis. — A man who claimed he saw a puppy tossed over a bridge in Janesville had fabricated the tale, police said.

The Janesville Police Department said officers investigated the report that a fisherman saw a young, small black male dog thrown off the Veterans Memorial Bridge Wednesday afternoon . The man who claimed to witness the event brought the wet dog to the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin.

A veterinarian who examined the dog said he didn’t have any physical or emotional trauma. The pet didn’t have a microchip or tags, and he was only wearing a flea collar.

The incident wasn’t initially reported to police, but an officer went to the home of the man who claimed to have rescued the puppy.

The officer who interviewed the man and other members of his household said the story was fabricated to avoid paying a fee to the humane society to surrender the dog.

Police said there were no false statements made to the police, so there won’t be criminal charges.

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