A small, blind dog was rescued by Miami-Dade Animal Services Tuesday after he was found in mangroves in southwest Miami-Dade County. But it’s what witness said happened to the dog before it was found that left many questions.
Miami-Dade Animal Services investigators were initially called to area of Black Point Marina on a report of a dog in the area. A witness said the dog was in an area that had bones and a cocoon-like structure wrapped in duct tape and tied to a tree, but the dog wasn’t found there.
“On the edge of the forest, we found duct tape hanging from a nail and the evidence sort of points to the fact that the dog was covered in duct tape in like a cocoon and nailed to the back of a palm tree,” said resident Bill Flett.
Animal Services said the dog was found in mangroves near the Water Treatment Plant in southwest Miami-Dade County. An investigator went into the mangroves, found the dog and was able to bring it out.
Witnesses said the dog was inside the cocoon-like structure that was taped to the tree. However, they couldn’t say why the dog was taped to the tree. Miami-Dade Animal Services said when they arrived the dog wasn’t taped to the tree.
“All over this place are bones and I was told by some experts that I spoke with that it’s probably Santeria because there’s a bunch of dead bones and the way the dog was hung in the sack of made of duct tape up on the tree,” said Flett. “Not really sure what it was, but it sure points to the fact that it probably was something like Santeria.”
Animal Services said the dog is doing well and on fluids and antibiotics. Staffers have named the dog “Angel.” Animal Services said if the owners don’t come forward, Angel will be made available for adoption.
