Teens Wanted to 'Get Rid Of' Dog Who Wouldn't Fight, Cops Say

Tampa Police knew life hadn’t been easy for Cabela the dog when they found her on March 4, belted to railroad tracks, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

They just didn’t know how bad it really was.

Through the course of their investigation to find those responsible for shooting the animal and leaving her for dead, they discovered Cabela was intended for use in dog fighting. Two boys, both age 17, bought the dog specifically for that purpose, the department wrote in an email to media following their arrests.

“When Cabella wouldn’t fight, they decided to get rid of her,” the email stated.

The two boys, along with others, took the dog to the railroad tracks about 100 feet north of Eskimo Drive and one of them threw her into the woods and fired at her, the email said.

Cabela ran back home, police said, and sat injured on the front porch. The boys caught up with the dog, brought her back to the tracks and tied her with a belt before firing at her several more times, police said.

See Also:

• Police Rescue Dog Shot Twice
• Dog Fighting Operation Busted by Police

The teens fled the area after the shooting, sparking the manhunt for those responsible.

Surveillance video captured near the scene enabled detectives to hone in on their suspects, police said. One of the people on the video, an adult, was known to officers, leading to the arrests of the two teens.

Both boys “admitted to the offense,” the email stated.

One of the teens was charged with aggravated animal cruelty, armed trespassing and possession of a firearm. The other faces aggravated animal cruelty and trespassing charges. Patch is not releasing their names due to their ages.

Police rescued Cabela shortly after three calls came in about gunshots fired in the Sulphur Springs area on March 4 around 5:30 p.m. She was taken to the Tampa Bay Veterinary Emergency Center on Bearss Avenue and is recovering well following surgery.

Photo courtesy of the Tampa Police Department