ROCHESTER, Minn. - Rochester police are investigating an alleged act of animal cruelty that ended with the death of a dog in early February.
Investigators received a call the morning of Friday, February 3, alleging abuse that ended in the death of a large breed dog the night before.
The female owner of the dog told police that she was not home at the time, and that a 27-year-old male had been left in charge of the animal.
Authorities took the dog to an emergency veterinarian who pronounced it dead and began an necropsy to determine the cause of death.
The Rochester Post Bulletin reports that the dog's owner and the male suspect walked into the Paws and Claws Humane Society the following Saturday to adopt another dog. They left with one, but returned the animal later when the shelter manager became concerned.
(Copyright 2012 by KARE. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. )