The leash from one of the dogs: This leash was wrapped tightly around the neck of one of the two dogs found deceased. Wounds on necks and other sign on their bodies may indicate that they were strangled. If you have any information, please contact the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office at 303-582-5500. PHOTO BY BRITTANIE DICKSON[/caption]

I struggle to find words to express my deep sadness and overwhelming helplessness. If I were not already feeling trauma from Jarrod Rothwell’s alleged arson and animal cruelty, an even more shocking event of animal cruelty has also transpired in our mountain community.

Two young dogs, brindle and black pittie mutts, were found by a local hiker strangled and shot in an unpopulated area of Gilpin County on a vacant land between Black Hawk and the junction with US 6 in the midafternoon of August 6, 2023. From the blood found at the scene, it appears they had been killed just hours before.

The origin of the dogs is unknown and there is no identifying information in the way of microchips or collars.

The Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office informs us that law enforcement will take any information they can get, no matter how small. They ask that the public entrust them to decide the relevance.

If you have information contact the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office by calling 303-582-5500. The reference case number is 23–0525 and the lead deputy on this case is Deputy Meyer.

Contact the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office if you have seen, are aware of, or have viewed any of the following;

-any person traveling with or without dogs, lingering in the subject area, walking the highway or frequenting local businesses nearby,

-anyone whose dog(s) have gone missing recently, resembling the deceased, and/or

- if you have viewed anything on social media that you think would be helpful.

The Sheriff’s Office is appreciative of any information, no matter how small it may seem.

From an interview with a dog-loving deputy with the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, he shares that if there ever was a reason to keep your dogs close, it’s this. “The takeaway from this, is that people should absolutely be keeping their animals under watch. Not just for the predators, the risk of death-by-highway, but even more so, because of the possibility that something like this could happen to one of your dogs.”

The deceased dogs are temporarily resting in wait for further investigation. Anyone wishing to make a donation for final cremation may do so by contacting Charlie’s Place, https:// charliesplaceshelter.weebly.com/.

Animal Cruelty is a Class A Felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison under the PACT Act (Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act) in 2019, https://www.johntfloyd.com/understanding-the-new-federal-animal-cruelty-law/. Colorado is ranked number 4, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, in regards to animal protection laws. Anti-cruelty laws exist for a reason. Animal cruelty offenders are a threat to the health and safety of all members of our communities. Violence against animals, abhorrent in and of itself, has been statistically linked to violence against people as well (https://www.alleycat.org/resources/anti-cruelty-laws-protect-all-cats/).

May we all hug our own dogs, and may the heinous cruelty visited upon these innocent, vulnerable beings, be honored with our efforts to bring their perpetrators to justice.

Remember, the perpetrator is still at large.