Skinning Of Beagle Could Have Been Accidental

By: Associated Press | Alabama's13.com
Published: December 18, 2007

» Comments | Post a Comment

CULLMAN, Ala. (AP) - A new report is casting doubts on claims that a beagle was intentionally skinned alive last month in Cullman County.

Owners of a beagle named Anne believed that the animal was intentionally skinned after they found her missing much of her skin. A veterinarian who euthanized the dog called it the worst case of animal cruelty he had ever seen.

But Cullman Sheriff Tyler Roden says an examination by a state pathologist indicates the skinning might have been an accident.

That's because it appeared to have been performed by a machine, not someone with a knife. The findings raise the possibility of a mishap involving farm equipment or other machinery.

Roden says his office was treating the skinning like a crime. But now, he says it appears there's a slim chance that anyone purposely skinned the beagle.

About $35,000 in reward money is being offered for information leading to an arrest. Roden says the case remains open, but the investigation is being scaled back.