EAST MACHIAS, Maine — The Maine State Police and a local animal control officer have been looking into allegations that a dog owned by an East Machias woman was recently tortured and killed in the Gardner Lakes area near the Washington County community of Whiting.
While details remain sketchy, Washington County Sheriff Donnie Smith said Friday it appears “the incident did happen” and remains under investigation.
The dog’s owner, Michelle Rhodes of East Machias, who declined to be interviewed Friday, said in a Facebook posting that the female pit bull went missing and, after a search, was found dead in an apple orchard with its throat cut and its body riddled with multiple gunshot wounds.
Kevin Nelson, a Machias police officer who is also the animal control officer for East Machias, said Friday it’s unclear exactly what transpired. He also said that charges will be filed if the person who caused the dog’s death is identified.
Jason Barry of East Machias, who said Friday he found the carcass, said the dog had recently given birth to a litter of 13 puppies. He said he has photographs of the dead dog and photos of shell casings and a blood trail that led him to the carcass.
Barry said social media accounts of the incident have attracted multiple offers of cash that would be used to offer a reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone responsible for the dog’s death.
“Given the response we’ve had, I wouldn’t be surprised if by next week the reward amount would be five grand,” Barry said Saturday morning.
Why is it that Sheriff Smith is commenting now for the State Police and THEIR investigation. Maybe the Sheriff was hired by them as a new spokesperson…cool : )
Anything to get his name or face in the news.
This is absolutely despicable!
I’m not a big fan of pit-bulls, but it takes a real jack-hat to do something like this to any living creature. Hope they nail the sick-o and he gets identified to the public.
Anyone seen Michael Vick lately?
That dog may very well have been aggressive towards a hunter in the area. Lets see what
comes of it. There may be a lot more to this story. So far everyone seems to assume it is
just some cruel act but there may be a good reason this dog was killed.
There is never a good reason to torture an animal. If the dog was aggressive towards a hunter….it would have just been shot. Not shot multiple times and its throat slit.
Pit bulls are very stubborn once they get their mind set on something. Heard a great story of one pit bull rescue dog and how much that dog would do to save lives was incredible relatively speaking. One bullet may not be enough to take it down.
If the pit bull was causing harm, I wouldn’t say anything, but many of these dogs are sweet, loving, friendly, loyal animals. Shame someone has been tainted by some horrible pit bull story or a bad owner. A slit throat on top of all the bullet wounds does seem like overkill.
Sorry, but there is no way in hell anything or anyone deserves to be killed in this way—A single shot would have done the job, if a hunter did this, as you suggested, sounds to me like he, or she, has a severe problem!
The dog was not just killed though; she was tortured. If a hunter was attacked by the dog, one or two shots would have been all that was needed and he would have come forward immediately to tell his story. Since the person is hiding, that is a sure sign that he knows he did something wrong.
That does not constitute a reason for this act.
Nothing does.
A lot of sick people out there, if they’d do that to a dog, who’s to say they wouldn’t do it to a person?
I only wish the perpetrators of this horrific crime could suffer the same fate as this poor dog.
As long as Nelson isn’t the lead investigator it might be solved otherwise good luck.
It’s sad commentary when as much as $5,000.00 is needed to make someone come forward to do the right thing.
that to make up for loss wages and gas money when you have to go to court 10 times because the da’s office waste the witness’s time by continuing the case 100 times
Mike has retired.
Mike who? and what does that have to do with my post
I think they mean Mike Povich….former DA.
oh…dont know him. thanks
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Justice-for-Remi/274406239329533
For those of you interested in the Justice For Remi page
I hope the anal probe who did this is caught and suffers 10 times worse!
Your post is offensive to anal probes.
This poor, poor animal. I can’t bear to hear of this type of thing. It is stories like this that make me feel we have not evolved very far as a species……
Isn’t this what happens to a deer (moose/boar/etc) when it’s shot?
No. Does are not shot right after giving birth. Nor are they shot with multiple guns and their throats slit.
Don’t try to tie what some lowlife scum did to this dog to hunting. The two are not related.
FWIW, I am not a hunter, nor do I particularly like hunting. However, the hunters I know would not torture an animal, nor would they kill a nursing mother. I also hope that most hunters would be responsible and use the meat for their family. This is not about hunting, as others have pointed out. This is about animal torture and senseless killing. Pits are wonderful and sweet, many of them.
I love all animals. It sickens me to see torture of any helpless creature. I don’t really like to eat meat for anyone who is going to harp all over me. I am totally fine cutting up and eating vegetables.
I agree jenniloohoo, because I think of its last moments, and obvious to this/these cold hearted killer(s) that she just gave birth to puppies. I will send this story along to PETA…they can put up some $$$ to hunt down this animal murderer.
In an apple orchard? Deer season? Not so fast there. If that dog was “at large”, chasing deer
and/or people it will be a whole other story.
Even if the dog was running deer, it is not legal for anyone to shoot it. Game wardens or other law enforcement personnel have to be involved. If the animal is not yours, you can only shoot it if it is threatening you or another person or your livestock or pets.
Yeah……well it is my word against a dead pit bull. Case closed.
And you sir are somewhat of an uneducated person::
Do you know how foolish that sounds? You don’t know me. If I come face to face
with a pit bull, or any dog for that matter, running at large in my pasture or woods and he shows any signs of aggression he will die. If you are so smart tell me what you would do.
Wait til it gets hold of you?
So you would have to shoot it multiple times and slit its throat?? Thats torture…not protecting yourself.
Very few dogs will become aggressive unless cornered, I have trained dogs for years and also encountered just about every dog known , yes I have been beaten both by trained dogs and home owners dogs , but the home owners dogs are trapped and no where to go, there is no reason for a person other than law enforcement to shoot a dog. that again in an apple orchard, and just because it’s a pit bull ,still is no reason, I know a number of people with them and they are great dogs. The sick fool who did this should not have a firearm and should be looked at by mental health, Who ever did this is a very sick person.
$2000.00 dollar fine shooting someones dog, even if the dog is standing over a deer.. I know first hand. Lost a dog that way.
Nobody loves dogs more than I do. It is a shame you lost your dog and I know how it hurts
when one dies or has to be put down. But…….if I had one chasing deer or killing the neighbors
chickens I would expect someone to shoot it if I didn’t put it down first.
All of your posting his just to kill, there are many other opions than just killing a dog because it doesn’t mind you or follow your commands, or do something that is a natural thing for them to do unless taught different, The thing is to teach them as you would a child, right from wrong sometimes it takes a while. with comments as yours I don’t beleive you either should have a dog. I have seen people such as you, and by your posting as a controlling pet owner that beats his animals to do what he demands them to do. and when they see you, they cower and pee on the floor, but it makes you feel good because you have power over a poor animal. This will be my last reply to you because you seem to have no common sense, no one shoots an animal 18 or so times even if it did attack a person then cut it’s throat. This is a crime that the punishment can’t justify what should be done to the person or persons that commited such an act. again he , she or them are very sick people..
Where the hell does it say this dog was shot 18 times? Forget it. And thank you for not
responding to ANY of my posts. YOU a Trooper? Not a chance.
Not even a pimple on a trooper.
Are you drunk? No, don’t answer that. Look at your spelling. Judging me by a few posts?
Wanna be comes to mind. Go away. The investigation will take its course and we will all
know later, what the outcome is. Maybe. ;=)
The owners of the dog have a page on FB that tells how their poor dog was murdered, shot 18 times and had her throat slit from ear to ear.
very sad story..I pray the person that performed this disgusting crime is caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent and will never be allowed to own any animal in their possession the rest of their life
Nor allowed to own guns ever again. How irresponsible can a person be with a gun?
The scorned BF? The ex? The people who got tired of waiting for money? Dog didn’t do anything to deserve that, this is something really mean aimed at the owner… OR some bath-salted retard with a gun and knife.
From what I understand, the owner’s were moving and the husband had the adult dogs in his truck and pulled over to let them out to use the bathroom and the dog trotted off and they spent the day searching for her. The person or people that did this probably did not even know whose dog it was.
So we’re back to the bath-salted retard, I guess. Damned shame…
Correct, and presumably the dog, as a good mother, was trying to find her way back to the house where her puppies were, or at least where she used to live. She was a good dog and didn’t deserve this as NO dog or any animal would.
you have the right to be an attorney
wait…I do have the right to be an attorney…lol
Sometimes the human condition leaves me so sad.
I suppose you are reading this story and having a laugh, but I’d be worried if I were you, because you will be found out. I am concerned because people like you wind up killing human beings…callous and vicious you are, more than a Pit Bull who is taught to be vicious.
I think the one involved with this is posting comments on this story in the name Mike T. Too bad they are stupid to realize that their screen names can be tracked back to the IP address from their computer. Keep posting if you dare.
not by you
????HUH?????
Assuming he’s not posting from a toss-phone.
Many people have Dynamic IP addresses, which can change frequently. Not to mention they could be using a proxy, or they could be stealing wifi from a neighbor.
Please know what you are talking about before you insert your foot into your mouth.
As for the article, I hope they catch whomever did this, pets are like family members to a lot of folks…
FUN??? Murdering innocent animals – eventually the behavior and path you choose comes up behind you…you reap what you sow…and that is what that person or persons has waiting for them.
It could have been an accident?
Being shot 18 times and having her throat slit from ear to ear is an accident????? Why does it sound like maybe you know more about this than you’re letting on? Care to weigh in? Jerk.
Like you?
What kind of monster does something like this? It is not the pit bull that was vicious, it was the so-called “human” who did this. What a twisted mind.
This was a horrific crime and I hope they nail the people that did this.
You’re making such a joke of this horrible act, that it makes you look like maybe you’re the one who did it – just “having a little fun?” Sick-o
PEOPLE????
Enlighten us. I have a very fine imagination, but I cannot come up with one single scenario where this could have been an accident!!
Boy you guys and gals make me laugh. A guy comes in here trolling, obviously gets his kicks from making you jump, and you give him EXACTLY what he wants.
Dum Dee Dee Dump Dump…..Dump Dump
Even a troll needs a slap in the face once in a while.
I think the only accident was your conception.
You sure got me there.
At least something “got you”, because none of us can. You are alone.
No class!
Why is being called an “alleged” killing and torture? The dog WAS tortured and killed. Nothing alleged about it!
How do you know it could have been an accident.
Multiple gunshot wounds and a slit throat is not an accident. That’s overkill!
Wake up!
This is beyond disturbing.
I hope they get the scumbags that did it.
This is NOT okay. There is NEVER a reason to treat ANY animal this way! I hope the find the bast*** who did this!
“Kids being kids” don’t do something like this. Even if it was, this is not something “they’ll grow out of.” And by the sounds of it, you know something and better come forward…..before you become an accessory.
Lots of people “know stuff” that doesn’t make them accessories.
Go sit in the corner for a time out – you are too immature to post here.
Keep it up funny guy/girl…the Mod is watching.
Again, Like you?
There are some truly cold-hearted people in this world. Poor baby :(
You are beyond help.
Yup yup…….remember that next time you eat seafood, blueberries, hang a wreath or use anything made from wood.
You just seem to be shoving down everyones throats this “kids” scenerio to not be from Washington County.
So the only place to get seafood, blueberries, a wreath, and something made out of wood is Washington County……LOL!
Do not to dogs what is better done to tax collectors.
aside from the torture, having one less pitbull doesn’t bother me.. We need a pit bull ban in Maine so this doesn’t happen again..
we need a ban on sick psycho’s that would do that to someone’s pet! A dog is only as good as it’s owner!! Are you a sociopath? It sure seems like it!
you have no idea what you are talking about. Educate yourself. Try looking up statistics from a nuetral source…
In all fairness, if you put a ban on a breed, what happens when a different breed starts to make isolated headlines on attacks? Do we put bans on all the next breeds that are taught by humans to be aggressive? Dogs do not teach themselves to attack…people teach them. Educated fact. Pit bulls are no different. Pit bulls in general are very people friendly by nature. They were bred to detain bulls in a ring until humans decided they could make money teaching them to fight their own kind. Over-breeding and irresponsible ownership is what has led to the increased notoriety in the news. I can’t believe that every day someone doesn’t get bit or attacked by a dog, but it is always the pit bull that makes headlines because when they do attack, they are very powerful and have the strongest bone-crushing jaws of nearly any animal, including lions, tigers, and such. Until we put on bans on irresponsible owners, we can’t blame the entire stigma of attacks on the breed. Not trying to cause arguments. I have done research and watched many documentaries on the subject.
oh for crying out loud. I detest the breed also- but that’s NOT what this story is about. Grow up!
Yeah, just like all those serial killers that “grew out of it”
I saw this come across my FB page the other day… Horrible, a small area, wont take too long to figure out who did it…..
You have a lot to learn about acceptable behavior in this country. If my kid did something like this I’d have him committed.
Yeah and any kid that might do something like that, will grow up to be a sociopathic serial killer most likely.