Authorities today were investigating a report that a puppy found dead at Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey had drowned after being tethered to the ground with a rope and shovel.
The terrier mix was found dead about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 14100 block of Palawan Way, said sheriff’s Sgt. Jeff Slutske of the Marina del Rey Station.
Authorities were notified of the death by a group of lightweight-boat paddlers who said they noticed a blue-handled shovel sticking out of the water, according to the Los Angeles Times.
When they got closer to the shovel, they were shocked to find the animal tied to it, the newspaper reported. A black rope had been wrapped around the dog’s neck and the lower portion of the partially submerged shovel.
The dog likely drowned as the tide came in, Slutske said. He added that the animal had an identification tag.
One of the paddlers, Malia Zimmerman, posted a photo of the dog to her Facebook page.
“Sometimes people can be extraordinarily cruel,” she wrote. “We already reported this act of animal cruelty but it would be great to catch the puppy killer.”
Zimmerman also posted a photo of the animal’s identification tag, which read: “Dog License Animal Services 1476765.”
Slutske said the owner has not yet been found. The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control is also investigating the case.
Anyone with information on the incident should call the Sheriff’s Department at (310) 482-6000, Slutske said.
