22 dead dogs found in field

The Central Nebraska Humane Society and Hall County Sheriff's Department are investigating the deaths of 22 dogs whose bodies were dumped in a cornfield northeast of Grand Island.

Jane Kuehn, Humane Society shelter manager, said that initially the bodies of 14 dogs were reported to be in the cornfield, which is just under a mile east of Sky Park Road on the north side of Prairie Road.

She said two people spotted a dog on the edge of the cornfield, got out of the vehicle and began looking around and finding more dogs.

Kuehn said that, by the time the Humane Society arrived, 20 dead dogs had been discovered and three dogs were alive. She said two dogs died after the Humane Society arrived.

The one surviving dog was transported by the Humane Society to the Grand Island Veterinary Hospital, but Kuehn said she could not predict whether it would live.

Humane Society animal control officer Michael Valdez said that, while a few of the dogs were found near the corner of the cornfield, the majority of bodies were found "10 to 12 rows back and about 15 feet in (from a service road running through the field). They were in a 15-by-15 square area."

Kuehn said sheriff's deputy Frank Bergmark helped search the area and conduct an initial investigation.

Kuehn could not say what had killed the dogs, but she said a syringe was found at the scene. She said Bergmark took the syringe with him as part of the investigation.

"Hopefully, we'll find who did this," Kuehn said.

Kuehn and Valdez estimated the dogs might have been in the field a day or two. Kuehn said rigor mortis had set in on some bodies.

Kuehn said the dogs were a variety of breeds: pugs, Yorkies, terriers, terrier mixes, dachshunds and labradoodles. All the dogs appeared to be adults.

"It's a sad sight," Valdez said.

"Very sad," Kuehn said.