A grim discovery near Lake Hamilton has Polk County deputies asking the public for help after one dog was found dead and another injured along a rural roadside last Thursday.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the call for help came in at about 6:55 p.m. Deputies and animal-control officers arrived to find a brown male dog with white fur around its neck that was already deceased, and a second brown-and-white male dog with a neck laceration that animal-control staff treated at the scene. The investigation is being handled as PCSO case 26-8562, and detectives say they want to hear from anyone who saw or recorded anything in the area that evening.
CRIME: ANIMAL CRUELTYCRIME SCENE: LAKE HAMILTON AREAPOLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CASE 26-8562The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an animal cruelty case that originated in the Lake Hamilton area.On February 26, 2026, at around 6:55 pm, the PCSO was informed of… pic.twitter.com/tIvp6JmdrE
— Polk County Sheriff 🚔 Grady Judd (@PolkCoSheriff) March 3, 2026
What deputies found at the scene
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said deputies and a PCSO animal-control officer responded to the area next to Lake Hatchineha Road near Alford Road, west of Lake Hamilton. Investigators collected the deceased brown male dog with white fur around its neck as evidence…