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Subscribe to RSSA beagle returned home with an unusual find that has led to a criminal investigation in the town of Gallup, New Mexico: a human skull.
The dog found the remains Saturday evening and carried them home. Its owner, who lives on the west end of Gallup’s airport, then alerted authorities, John Allen, deputy police chief, told msnbc.com.
Police have determined the skull was from an individual believed to be a man, roughly 35 to 45 years old, who probably died about three years ago, Allen said.
Police decided to search a field around where the beagle lives since they figured the canine couldn’t have walked too far with the skull due to the dog's size. Their search turned up other human bones that “we believe are related to this skull,” Allen said.
“It is a criminal investigation at this time and until we determine otherwise, or receive other information, we’re going to continue along this path,” he said. “We’re attempting to identify who this individual may be … we may possibly have a lead and we’re looking into that right now.”
Gallup Police Det. John Yearley said dogs and coyotes unearth human remains a few times a year. In one case last year, dogs found bones that led police to a homicide case.
Police put the beagle on a leash to see if it could lead them to more remains, but the dog didn't, Yearley said. More bones were found near a coyote den, said Yearley, adding that he believed the body had been buried.
Of the beagle, he said, it is "quite the rabbit hunter. How he switched off from rabbits to the skull, I don't know."
Beagles have the best ground scenting ability among popular dog breeds, a trait that made them popular rabbit hunters in centuries past, according to SPCA International.
Gallup is a rural area that is home to about 20,000 people and borders the Navajo reservation, Allen said. It is about 140 miles west of Albuquerque.
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Good Boy!
I wonder how many dogs a year find human remains but ther owners have no clue and don't call the authorities.
Just when I thought I couldn't love beagles any more....
Gallup is a dump of a town. I always hated going through there.
He was bringing him master head! Good dog.
Hmmm. If he brings home the skull, it makes him look innocent. Crafty doggy! Obviously he's in it with the coyotes.
I want my dam skull back! I need it to hold my brraayyyynnnnn in! <zombie sigh>
When I lived un new mexico, a farmer brought a skull into the sherriff. He took it, saw the round hole in it and handed it back to the farmer, saying, "Probably just one of those old indians." Case closed!
I think the beagle is a canine of interest. Dogs are known to bury bones and then go back for them.
Hope he got a big beef bone to replace his find.
If he did, he probably buried it the back yard. LOL
Same place he found the skull.
Don't you just love beagles? They are great dogs!
I love my Beagle, but they are definitely not for everyone. As sweet and adorable as they are, they are the most stubborn, willful, disobedient dogs I've ever seen. They are really hard to train, amazing escape artists, and they love to run into traffic.
They also need a lot of room to run, and they are prone to obesity. However, they are great with children.
If you think your Beagle is stubborn, willful and disobedient try a Chow Chow! My Chow is all that and then some. He'll hear you talking to him and willfully ignore you, sometimes I think they are more cat then they are dog.
I was going to say you want a pet that doesn't listen try a cat, that is until treat time1 Dogie got a bone? That's a good boy, You'r so heads up! Someone had to say it! hope he at least got a good steak with a bone!
@Clotho,
My neighbor when I was a kid had a Beagle that was always roaming around our yard without his owners knowing or approving. And they would eventually come looking for him and scold him. We didn't mind because he was a cool dog, but we didn't do anything to attract him really like feed him (we kids would pet him). He just wouldn't listen to his owners and liked coming to our house.
I've had cats with every sort of personality: those who wanted to stay inside, those who liked to sneak out and roll in the mud, those who followed people around and came when they were called, those who pretended not to hear when they didn't want to be disturbed. All of them loved it when anybody prayed out loud. All of them loved to knock things over and scratch furniture. Some caught mice; some would sing to the birds. I grew up with a dog too, and she had a unique personality. Dogs and cats are very smart, stubborn, and opinionated; it takes love and an alpha personality to get along with them.
Dogs > cats
@ThirstyDrunk,
I'm not sure one way or another about your opinion, but I'm 100% certain that cats absolutely don't care.
Sounds like an average day in the Bronx
They took his bone away from him?! After all the trouble he went to bring it home? Dang!
Hope he got a new bone and 'Good Boy!'
5 fruitcakes
Hmmm. The dog was acting a little too innocent if you ask me. I definitely think his involvement needs to be scrutinized a little more.
Sounds like a great beginning for an episode of Bones!
LOL! Good one!
I agree with GeraldineSue. How do we know the Beagle didn't kill the guy and bury him 3 years ago? Sure, they act all friendly, but who's to say Beagles aren't vicious, like pit bulls?
honorary member of the skull & bones society
Alas, poor Yorick!
Thank you! First thing that came to my mind!
With all due respect for the dead, it sounds like a good episode for "Bones".
Has anybody noticed that this is the subject of the most recent Three Word Phrase comic? And apparently before the event
Dammit, I was just about to post mine!
Well, here it is anyway.
YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!
Obama probably had something to do with it - right GOP?
Yup. Undoubtedly a recipient of Obamacare.
<sigh>
Does politics have to be brought into every story?
I was just joking. I'm neither a Republican or a Democrat. I just couldn't resist baiting this twit!
:-)
@TheAirdog.... LMAO, (independent here)..
LOL, if a repubs in office they don't say anything. Gretchin Carlson fine example..Obama does SNL skit, she comments "that's not very presidential" shows Bush doing same thing, her response next day "OH, isn't that sweet, he's trying to connect with the people" THEY are the biggest hypocrites that ever walked. Ask the Dixie Chicks compared to Hank Williams Jr. Hannity says "We don't try to silence anyone we don't do that " OH, REALLY, Watch Shut Up and Sing and your face is there hounding the Chicks for LESS than anything Hank said......sigh. they are just evil, period.
Our cat often brings home mice it's preyed upon - I'm guessing to share with or cement its place in the "pride" - a habit that doesn't sit all that well with my wife. However after reading this story, I think she'll be grateful kitty likes to keep his gifts on the small side.
Now if I could only convince him that what Mufasa and Sarabi really want for presents are the moles tearing up our yard.
Cute - good luck with that!
I had a dog that used to bring home rabbits he caught. Once he showed off his catches he calmly laid down and ate them.
Well beagles can be mean little dogs at times.
If I had a beagle down in New Mexico, he'd only be allowed to roam free when he was running rabbit and I was right there with him. Beagles come in at about 30 lbs. Your average coyote weighs a lot more.
There bread small to hunt low! You would be surprised and so would the coyote!
I had a Beagle/Foxhound mix as a kid. One day as I was riding my bike, a Shepard attacked. The beagle/foxhound got him by the throat and the battle ended. Beagles are tough little dogs.
K Man 629118 Perhaps you need to speak with your cat and show him the mole tunnels so he gets the idea. Moles can be vicious and I have heard their bite can be poisonous. We had a grey and white tabby who was a great hunter. The ONLY time I ever saw her white fur dirty was after she brought home a mole as a prize. Our current cats have rid our yard of voles, another nuisence varmit that tunnels everywhere. And the moles have fled to other yards. Good job, Cats.
I prefer cats to dogs but that was a good trick performed by the beagle. Go out for an innocent walk and start a homocide investigation. Good dog!
...give a dog a bone, this old man came rolling home.
LOL
Those are some of the funniest posts that I have seen in a long time!
Atta boy, Rover! Please take it back outside before you dirty up the carpet!
Maybe police depts should bring more beagles to crime scenes and let them walk around for a couple hours.
I bet the toughest part was taking away the skull from the beagle; they can be very stubborn.
Until they start coming back with fresh skulls.
Except it would be bad form when they start eating the evidence....
Wounder if the dog is a head hunter from an island in the Pacific! You need to check his pedigree
Good dog, Toby!
/Sherlock Holmes
Dog bites man is not news. Dog EATS man is. The pooch was bringing home a trophy from his kill.
I guess Snoopy had enough of that round-headed kid.
He was a heady little dog! We never knew what would come next!
The old man who lived down the block from us used to go rabbit hunting with his 2 beagles, carrying his shotgun through the town. Then I found a dumped off dog that looked like Old Yeller with a stubby tale, which gave him is name of Stubby, and asked my dad if we could keep it. Dad said we'd feed it. The dog became the town dog, roaming everywhere. Eventually the guy's 2 beagles died and he took Stubby in. He would let himself in and out of the man's yard by using his nose to unlatch the gate. One day I saw Stubby running across the railroad tracks and a train hit him. I ran crying home to dad "Stubby's been killed. He got hit by a train." Then Stubby came limping along with his back leg bone sticking out from under his skin. Dad who was an Army medic back in WWII, made Stubby a splint and set the bone. The dog lived like another 8 years. Good old Stubby.