Reward Offered After Emaciated Dog Abandoned In Cage Outside Manassas Clinic

MANASSAS, VA — An emaciated dog found in a cage outside a Manassas animal clinic was later euthanized due to poor health conditions. Prince William County Police are seeking information in the felony animal cruelty case, and PETA is offering a $5,000 reward for tips.

Around 10:49 a.m. Monday, animal control responded to the Battlefield Animal Clinic at 8139 Sudley Road in Manassas after clinic staff discovered a dog in a cage outside the building around 6 a.m. The dog, an adult tan and white-colored Pitbull/Husky-mix, was severely emaciated and was in poor health. Clinic staff provided care until animal control arrived, and the dog was taken to the Prince William County Animal Services Center.

According to police, the dog was "humanly euthanized due to its suffering and poor quality of life." The dog's body will receive a necropsy and additional examination.

Surveillance footage showed a light-colored sedan, possibly a Lexus, with Maryland tags arrived around 4:18 a.m. Monday. Police say the driver removed a cage and left the dog before leaving the scene. The driver was described as a man of an unknown race wearing a baseball cap, white shirt tank top and dark-colored shirt draped on his shoulders.

PETA has offered a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect. The organization says animal abusers are often repeat offenders and may have other animals.

"This poor dog deserved someone he could depend on to keep him safe, fed, and loved, but instead he was starved, dumped in a parking lot, and left to die," said PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O’Brien, who is also a Prince William County resident. "PETA urges anyone who has any information about this case to come forward and help us get some measure of justice for this dog—and possibly help other animals at risk."

Anyone with information can contact the Prince William County Police Department tip line at 703-792-7000 or submit a tip to pwcva.gov/policetip.