Silent Witness: Reward offered after body of chihuahua found burned in Phoenix

PHOENIX - Animal rescue officials reported finding a dog severely burned off the side of the road near 43rd Avenue and Ocotillo Road on March 23.

Those who responded to that call say this may be the worst case of animal cruelty they have ever seen.

The chihuahua, for now, is nameless and animal rescue officials have yet to even determine the dog's gender. But what they do know is that this was a life, that's now lost.

"We deal with this every day, but it never gets easier, no matter how many you've been on or the type of situation that it's been involved in, said Bretta Nelson of the Arizona Humane Society.

AHS officials say they respond to over 6,200 animal cruelty investigations each year, but one responder in this case said that seeing this chihuahua lying dead inside a burned up and melted case was the worst scene she's ever been called to in her 23-year career.

"I think that alone just gives an indication of just how heartbreaking and senseless it is," said Nelson.

MORE: Silent Witness poster about the animal cruelty case [Viewer discretion advised]

Nelson is urging people to be on the lookout and to report anything suspicious before it is too late.

The dog's body was taken to Midwestern University in Glendale. There, they will perform a necropsy to determine the exact cause of death. 

If you have any information about this case, Silent Witness is offering up to a $1,000 reward for tips that lead to an arrest or indictment.

TIP LINE: (480) WITNESS. 

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