Local News in Brief : Irvine : 2 Pit Bulls Found Tied to Tree, Shot

Police are investigating the shooting of two pit bullterriers, which were found tied to a tree, bound with electrical tape, shot, then left to die, authorities said Wednesday.

Irvine Police Lt. George White said the dogs were discovered in an Irvine industrial park off Cowan on Monday morning by an employee reporting for work.

The gray-and-white dogs, a male and female, were tethered to a tree. Their legs were bound with black electrical tape. Both had been shot twice in the head, but the male pit bull survived, police said.

Carl Pagano, superintendent of the city’s animal services division, said the surviving dog appeared dehydrated and disoriented.

“He had obvious swelling from the left side of the head caused by internal bleeding. He had a lot of trouble balancing. There was serious brain damage,” he said.

The dogs were taken to the Arbor Animal Hospital, where the survivor was destroyed because of the extent of its injuries.

“It was a very unfortunate situation,” Pagano. “I don’t know why anyone would do this.”

From the condition of the dead female, Pagano said it appeared that the dogs had been tied to the tree sometime Sunday night or early Monday morning, shot and then left for dead.

“We have no idea who the owners were,” he said. “We checked our lost-and-found files here at the animal shelter and have asked the county of Orange to do the same.”