Dog found shot in head in Tipton County (graphic photos)

Neighbors in rural Tipton County are sharing their outrage after a dead dog was left on the side of the road.

The graphic images, posted to Facebook by a Tipton County man, show a dog, dragged to the side of State Road 19 near County Road 625 North with a bullet in its head.

Dale Salsbery has owned property off SR19 for 70 years. He has seen wild animals killed and left roadside, but Monday felt different.

"Pretty big commotion," Salsbery said. "Lots of police cars, a lot of blinking lights. This road has gotten pretty busy."

This time, a dog had been hit by a car. A Tipton County Sheriff's deputy tried to find the dog's owners but there were no collars or tags.

"It was obvious that the animal's back was broken, and that it was immobile, in the middle of the roadway, and they just couldn't leave the dog in the middle of the roadway," said Tipton County Sheriff Tony Frawley.

The dog was pulled to the side of the road and put down, where it stayed for two days.

"I believe it was a couple of days. And in most people's eyes and understandably so, that's maybe two days too long," Frawley said.

When a neighbor posted the photos of the dead dog on Facebook, angry responses followed.

"I appreciate the public's concern. Those comments are, I take them personally when it affects our department, and if I didn't I wouldn't respond," Frawley said.

Tipton County does not have animal control or the ability to remove them on their own.

"He was under the understanding that arrangements had been made that the dog would be removed," Frawley said, referring to the responding deputy. "And so he left it there so it would be visible, and not off in the ditch somewhere so those picking it up could remove the animal. It's obvious that did not happen."

"I have no issues with what the officer did, how he handled it. My concern is what he did once he put the dog down and how that was handled, and he understands that," Frawley said.

Salsbery says waiting days to remove a dead animal is not the norm.

"Usually, it's picked up fairly soon," Salsbery said.

However, with a dog involved, stakes and emotions run higher.

"We take responsibility for that, and it will be addressed, it has been, and it won't happen again," Frawley said.

The dog has now been removed.    

Officials with INDOT say the agency will pick up any animals left on the side of the road, wild or domestic, as long as they are notified.

Link to photos (warning - these are graphic images that may be disturbing to some readers.)