Investigation launched after two dogs found killed
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EAGLE CREEK, Ore. -- The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office is investigating after an Eagle Creek man reported he found his two dogs had been killed with a sharp object. The two dogs had been missing since Nov. 13.
Deputies looking into the incident said Japheth Stalcup, 25, called 9-1-1 on Nov. 15 to report he had found the remains of his dogs, Duke and Buddy, on a steep embankment in a wooded area behind his property, which is located southeast of Portland in Eagle Creek.
Stalcup told investigators it appeared the dogs had been hit with an ax several times, deputies said. One of the dogs was tossed from a cliff after it was killed. The other dog was found about 150 yards away.
"I don't understand why anybody would do this," said Rose Stalcup. "It really hurts to know that we live in a world where people can be this cruel."
"It was bad people who killed them," said 5-year-old Ethan Stalcup.
The remains of both dogs were taken in for examination by the Oregon Humane Society, who confirmed that both dogs died from "blows from some sort of sharp implement."
Deputies said the injuries suffered by the dogs ruled out some sort of attack by another animal.
The Stalcup family said their dogs did not have any run-ins with anyone recently and they have no idea why anyone would want to hurt them.
"If someone did have a problem with us or our dogs, I wish that they would have come to us first or said something before they even thought or, thought of any, doing anything like this to our dogs," Rose Stalcup said.
Buddy was a Labrador/Blue Healer mix and Duke was a black Labrador, deputies said. The dogs' ages were not specified.
The Oregon Humane Society is offering a reward of up to $500 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and prosecution of any suspects in this case. The group In Defense of Animals also offered a reward of $2,500.
"We are taking this very seriously and I pray that whoever did this has the nerve to come forth and maybe confess," said Rose Stalcup. "Or hopefully someone who does know any information about it will come forward."
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office's confidential Tip Line at 503-723-4949 or by using the online email form. Please reference case No. 12-34107.
@drinkmorewater, these were both Labs. They probably ran up to the person to get petted and to lick him, and the sick &*%$ decided to kill them.
loss for dog owner. Â The story does not seem to make sense. Â I can not picture a dog staying engaged with an attacker with an axe long enough to not get the picture and run off unless it was fighting till death to protect master. If it was dark and the dog freaked it could have run off edge of cliff. Â Sounds like animal on animal to me. Who knows.
Pay back is not a good thing! There some bad stuff heading towards the person who did this. That is the way life goes. I am so sorry for the owner of these beautiful dogs to have to go thru this. How horrible.
There's a special room in Hell for people who commit these kind of acts.