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ARCHBALD, Pa. -- An investigation was underway in Pennsylvania's Lackawanna County after officials say a dead dog was found in a backpack.
Archbald police said a man walking his dog made a gruesome discovery just feet off a path inside Ed Staback Regional Park shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 14.
Police said after his dog ran up to a backpack, the man opened it up and found a dead dog inside.
Other dog owners in the park were stunned to hear the news.
“Why would anybody do that to a dog?” asked Anne Armezzani from Montdale. “Just let the dog alone. Don’t bother them. Don’t kill them. Don’t do that to them.”
Police said the dog was small with black, brown, and possibly white fur, and it was wrapped in a pillowcase before being put into the pack.
Lackawanna County Humane Officer Laura Vitali was called in to help with the investigation.
“We can see by looking at the dog that there was definitely neglect. There’s severe matting on the dog,” said Vitali. “The fur appears in some areas to be white. It’s been yellowed by urine. It could be the extended amount of time it’s been out here, but it only appears to have been here for a week.”
Archbald police said they were working to determine how the dog died and how it got in the park.
Police said the backpack was pink and black and had a pencil case in the front pocket. They were hopeful someone would recognize the pack and call police.
“It’s a defenseless animal. No reason why anyone should do this to any animal,” said Archbald Police Officer Brian Munley. “If they can’t take care of it, by any means, there’s always shelters or other people who will take the animal and give it the love and care that it deserves.”
“I think that’s awful. There are so many places that will take dogs. Bring it to the humane society if they don’t want the dog,” said dog owner Wendy Rosetti from Archbald.
Vitali said the dog would be taken for a necropsy to determine the cause of death.