A Lacey family has started a GoFundMe to cover the medical expenses for three of their four dogs, after someone came into their backyard Monday and injured them.
According to the GoFundMe, about 11 p.m. March 20 a person entered the family's backyard in Aldea Glen subdivision off Carpenter Road Southeast. The suspect then proceeded to beat and cut the animals using a knife. Lacey Sgt. Jeremy Knight said one of the four dogs avoided injury by running away, but it was missing for a few hours.
Knight said he was told the owners found the sheath to a knife in their backyard. He said detectives were assigned to the case Thursday, March 23.
One of the dogs had to be taken to the hospital immediately with lacerations on its back and neck, one of which went down to the bone and was several inches long, the GoFundMe page says. Surgery to address the injuries cost the family $7,200. Another dog had lacerations on its head where it looked like it was stabbed by a knife, and another was hit so hard it lost a tooth, according to the GoFundMe page.
The organizer of the GoFundMe, Lynn Jenkins, said she wasn't home at the time of the attack but her roommate heard the dogs screaming outside. The roommate yelled at the man, who then ran and jumped the fence to escape.
Two of the dogs were taken to a non-emergency veterinarian later in the week, and their injuries were more extensive than they originally believed. The online fundraiser has a goal of $10,000 to cover vet bills and it had raised $1,265 as of 11 a.m. Friday, March 24.
Knight said the owners provided a description of the suspect and said he fits the profile of a man who often works in the neighborhood. He asked anyone with information or surveillance footage they could provide to call LPD at 360-459-4333.
