Authorities are investigating the grisly discovery on Rt. 82
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
West Brandywine Township Police are among the agencies investigating the discovery of a burned dog on the side of Rt. 82 tonight.
The Wagontown Fire Company chief was on his way to the fire station tonight about 8 p.m. when he said he saw what appeared to be a brush fire on the side of Rt. 82 in West Brandywine Township.
L. Todd Ziegler said he always carries an extinguisher with him so he stopped to see if he could put out the fire and was shocked by what he found: a caged dog in flames. “It was unbelievable,” he said. “In all my years, I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Ziegler said he called police, who then called the fire marshal and the Chester County SPCA. Rich Britton, a spokesman for the Chester County SPCA who responded to the scene with Animal Control Officer Craig Baxter, said a necropsy will be conducted and an investigation has begun.
Britton urged anyone with information to call the Chester County SPCA at 610-692-6113, ext. 213.
The Chester County SPCA was involved in a similarly horrific investigation in June when the burnt remains of a dog were found in the 300 block of Coates Street in Coatesville. Britton said preliminary indications do not suggest a connection, but he stressed that the investigation is in its early stages.
“It’s hard to imagine who could do such a thing,” he said.
