Dog abandoned and left to die in Pahrump-area desert
The Nye County Sheriff’s Office is seeking help in identifying the owner of an abandoned dog left to die in the desert.
On Monday, Nye County sheriff’s deputies and animal control officers responded to the area of East Basin Avenue at Higley Road for a report of a deceased animal, just after 2 p.m.
Upon arrival, they located the dead dog, locked inside a kennel on the side of the road.
“The animal is described as a Spaniel mix with a tan-colored coat, weighing approximately 12 pounds and estimated to be 1-to-2 years old,” a news release stated. “The circumstances and cause of the animal’s death are under investigation. Deputies are seeking the public’s assistance in this investigation.”
Poisoning investigation
The abandoned dog’s death came as the sheriff’s office and animal control continue their separate investigation into a series of dog poisonings in the valley.
On April 26, deputies responded to a local animal hospital after employees said at least five dogs were suffering from severe poisoning symptoms.
“The dogs’ owners are neighboring residents in the Bonnie Claire Street and Comstock Circle North area of Comstock Park,” a news release stated. “Two of the five dogs are since deceased and the remaining three are reported to be in critical condition.”
Deputies discovered the dogs ingested poisoned meat placed on the dog owners’ properties.
Detectives have coordinated that investigation with forensic specialists to determine the nature of the substances used to poison the dogs.
Similar cases
In 2015, a similar series of poisoned dog incidents was investigated in the same area of Comstock Park.
Detectives investigated a possible suspect at the time but were unable to affect an arrest. The methods and location of this new series of poisonings, the sheriff’s office said, appears strikingly similar to the incidents which occurred in 2015.
Detectives are asking for the assistance from the public by reporting any suspicious people in the area.
Pet owners are advised to not leave their animals unattended when outside and to check their yards for any foreign substances.
Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes
