Cleveland Dogs Die Tied to Train Tracks

Aug. 15, 2012— -- PETA has offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a man who tied three dogs to Cleveland train tracks.

Animal control officials were called to the tracks, which run through an industrial neighborhood in Cleveland, Friday evening after a railroad employee said he saw a man tying a dog to the tracks and taking photos or video as a train passed by, police said. The bodies of the other two dogs were found nearby.

"It's got everyone upset over here that someone would do that. It's awful that someone did that to torture animals, and might be filming it," Lt. Mark Ketterer, who is leading the investigation for the Cleveland Police Department, told the Plain Dealer newspaper. The surviving dog, which is believed to be a mixed-breed Manchester terrier and is much smaller than the others, managed to avoid the train by crouching, said Leslie DeSouza, kennel manager at the Cuyahoga Animal Shelter, which is caring for the dog.

"She is doing amazing. She is healthy and happy. There is not a scratch on her anymore," DeSouza said. "When she came to us, she was very traumatized and cautious. She's still skittish but an absolute sweetheart."

The dog had no chip or identifying information on her pink collar, DeSouza said. She is expected to be placed for adoption this weekend, after a mandatory waiting period to see whether an owner comes forward.

"We have had a lot of calls and we are going to go through each one," DeSouza said. "We're going to make sure she finds a nice home."