Officials located the dog's owners, who said they let the animal, named Django, out around midnight, KTVK reported. The owners were unaware the dog had been killed, the television station reported.
"He has been in our daughter's life since she was 1, and she refers to him as her 'brother,'" the dog's owners told KTVK. "He was known as a gentle giant, loved by everyone, and not a mean bone in his body. Please help us get the word out in this senseless, cruel crime."
The investigation is ongoing, Sheriff's Office spokesman Dwight D'Evelyn told The Daily Courier of Prescott.
About the Author