FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — What began as a routine civil matter ended in a disturbing discovery at a Fort Pierce home—two dogs found dead, hanging by chains in a backyard.
According to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office (SLCSO), deputies responded to a home in the 2100 block of Dade Road, just south of Forest Grove Middle School, around 5:30 p.m. Sunday regarding a dispute over lawn equipment. But when no one answered the front door, deputies walked around to the backyard—where they came face to face with a horrifying scene.
Two dogs, described as male and female pitbull-type mixes, were hanging by their necks from an engine hoist—bound by a tangled mix of chains, ropes, paracord, and coaxial cable.
“They basically saw two dogs hanging from what looked like kind of an engine hoist,” said St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro. “When questioning our suspect, he basically said the dogs had done that to themselves. Obviously, we weren’t buying that explanation—it just doesn’t make any kind of sense.”…