Authorities investigate cruelty case after dog’s tragic death in Manassas

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — Authorities in Virginia are looking for people involved in an ongoing felony animal cruelty investigation, which tragically led to a dog’s death.

Shortly before 11 a.m. on Monday, Animal Control responded to Manassas’s Battlefield Animal Clinic. Staff had arrived at the clinic at around 6 a.m. to find a dog inside a cage at the side of the building.

The dog was an adult tan and white Pitbull/Husky mix, who was severely emaciated and in poor health. Staff provided immediate care and treated the dog until Animal Control arrived.

The dog was then taken to the Prince William County Animal Services Center, where, tragically, he was humanely euthanized due to his suffering and poor quality of life, authorities said. Authorities will continue to investigate once the necropsy results come back.

Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) officials stated that nearby surveillance footage captured a light-colored sedan, possibly a Lexus, with Maryland license plates, pulling into a parking lot near the animal clinic at around 4:18 a.m.

The driver then reportedly took the cage out of the car, abandoned the frail, neglected dog and immediately left the area.

The driver was described as a male, wearing a baseball hat and a white shirt (tank top), with a dark colored shirt draped on his shoulders.

Anyone with information about the investigation is encouraged to contact PWCPD.