Dead Dogs Found In Idaho: Dozens Beaten And Shot; Are They Ritual Killings?

In the southern Idaho farming valley known as the Magic Valley, four more dogs have been found beaten in the head and shot to death, adding to the dozens of dogs which have already turned up slain in the area. Nobody has claimed ownership of any of the deceased dogs, and they show no signs consistent with the idea that they might be engaged in dog fighting, which is illegal in Idaho.

"We didn't know until today how they had died: poisoned or shot or what. We knew it was some type of head trauma the way the eyes bulged out and with all the bleeding," said Gary Trostel, deputy with the Twin Falls County Sheriff's Office.

The finding is the latest in a spate of similar discoveries made in recent weeks. Last month, animal control officers reported the disappearance of about 30 dogs since November in the Magic Valley. Dogs of various breeds, ages and sizes had gone missing from private yards -- gates were pried open, fenced areas broken into -- or failed to return home after roaming. A few of the dogs reported missing on Craigslist are Great Danes, German shepherds, boxers, pit bulls and golden retrievers, according to USA Today. Purebred collies and Chihuahuas were also stolen.

On March 12, reported the Examiner, the body of a German shepherd was found by hikers in Devil's Corral near the town of Twin Falls. The dog's head had been crushed by a chunk of concrete and covered in a purple sheet, a detail which has led some to speculate that it was the object of a ritual sacrifice.

After details of that case emerged, the Human Society offered a $5,000 reward for information in the killing. However, no owner came forth to claim the animal, and as such the police have not opened an investigation on the incident.

"There have been some found with mouth duct-taped shut and then their teeth had been filed off before that so they couldn't fight back and were used to train dogs as bait dogs," said Debbie Blackwood, the director of the animal shelter in Twin Falls.

Deputy Trostel said that pet owners in the area were in a state of "constant concern," while the community at large was put on edge by the grisliness of the deaths. Authorities are advising dog owners to stay vigilant and keep their pets secure, and were asking residents to report any unusual activity, like the stalking or taking of pets.