Black Lab rescued from Georgetown canal, two more dogs found dead

Georgetown County authorities are trying to find out who is responsible for binding three dogs and throwing them in the International Paper Canal to die this week.

Someone dumped a black Labrador retriever in the canal on Monday — her mouth duct-taped closed, her front and back paws bound. An open wound on her head caused by a blunt object made it clear someone wanted her to die, authorities said.

That dog lived, but two more dogs were found dead in the canal on Thursday, They were bound in a similar fashion to the black Lab. The smaller of the two found Thursday had a rope around its neck and was covered with weeds and debris, authorities said.

Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Carrie Cuthbertson said both cases are under investigation, but they are considered to be connected. No suspects have been identified and no arrests have been made, she said.

The St. Frances Animal Center in Georgetown has raised a $2,500 reward to help deputies catch the person responsible for this animal cruelty.

The Humane Society and James Island-based Pet Helpers are also working to raise reward money.

“I personally would like to see this reward reach $5,000 because I find these actions to be so egregious, so cruel and inhumane,” Pet Helpers founder Carol Linville said. “This person is a major danger to the community. Someone with no compassion, no humility and no respect for life. That person needs to be found and gotten off the streets.”

Read more about this story in Saturday’s Post and Courier.