Pit bull found face down in 12-feet of water in Poestenkill Gorge

Posted at: 07/01/2010 9:47 PM
By: Abigail Bleck

A $2,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for killing the 4 or 5 year old female pit bull.

She was found face down, in a foot of water, at the Poestenkill Gorge, a popular but illegal swimming hole.

Investigators aren't sure if she was killed before and then thrown in the water or if she was drowned.

They did say that animal abuse and death is a growing problem in the city.

A woman walking her own dog discovered the 70 pound female at the base of the Poestenkill Gorge late Monday night. 

The tough terrain and darkness made it impossible to get her out then, so animal control had to wait until Tuesday morning to begin the investigation.

Officer Kevin McDonough of Troy Animal Control said “The dog was down there for at least a week that we know of, or more.”

The pit bull was found with a punctured lung, and with a 12 pound weight hanging around her neck. 

McDonough says that it is common to use weights like this to strengthen an animal for fighting...but they're illegal.

“They probably didn't need the animal, it was a female they could use it for breeding or fighting and when the animal's not useful they get rid of it.”

Officer McDonough's case load has tripled in recent years. 

It used to be that animal control only captured stray, missing or wild animals. 

But now he's responsible for criminal investigations.

“The animal fighting is starting to pick up it's not just pitts, it's a number of animals, a lot of animal cruelty going on in Troy.”

Troy Police Detectives do help when possible, but considering they have the unsolved murder of a human on their hands -- 26-year-old Edward Aquino, stabbed to death over the weekend -- finding out who killed a dog is up to officer McDonough.

“We're going to look at every angle to try and find 'em but we can't guarantee anything.”

If you have any information, Troy police want to hear from you.  Tips are kept confidential.

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If anyone has any information regarding this atrocity PLEASE call Troy police.

This dog deserved better than this.

RIP Sweet Pit Bull!!