PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A Portland woman tells police she found her dog dead with her tongue cut out after she was stolen from her backyard in early April.
The 19-year-old victim said Laika and 2 other dogs were in her backyard on the 6600 block of SE 83rd Avenue on the night of April 1. The next morning, the victim said, Laika was gone. She said the backyard gate was open, but the front gate was closed.
“It appeared that someone opened the front gate to access the back gate and took Laika, leaving the back gate open, but closing the front gate behind him,” police said.
She reportedly began her own investigation, asking for tips from neighbors, strangers and local homeless people. On April 6, the victim said she learned a homeless person named “Kim” was seen with Laika around the Springwater Corridor.
Sources told the victim “Kim” bragged about stealing 10-month-old Laika, a Ridgeback-Pitbull mix, because “she thought it was cute”, according to police.
The victim encountered 2 homeless people at Beggar’s Tick Park who reportedly said they know where Laika was. They claimed the dog drowned.
Laika was found dead in a shallow grave, police said.
According to the victim, Laika had a cut on one of her hind legs when she was found. Laika’s head and face were also reportedly swollen. The victim says she’s not sure if her dog was beaten up or if the swelling was a result of body gases from her death.
She told police Laika’s tongue was cut out and nailed to a nearby tree.
Other homeless people reportedly told her rumors about a local homeless man that does not like companion animals and who enjoys killing them, specifically dogs.
Police haven’t identified “Kim” or anyone else related to the incident.
Anyone with information on the case should email CrimeTips@PortlandOregon.gov.