Somerset Borough Police are investigating a burglary Tuesday in which a dog was severely injured and had to be euthanized.
Police Chief Randy Cox said officers responded to a burglary at an upstairs apartment on Cannell Drive around 5:45 p.m.
A couple who live in the first-floor apartment arrived home and found their dog, which Cox said he believed was a Pomeranian, injured and bleeding. The dog had head and chest injuries and had trouble breathing, police said.
Officers advised the couple to take the dog to a veterinarian.
The apartment was in disarray and a bucket under an open living room window appeared to be the burglars' entry point, police said
Officers were still at the apartment when the residents returned and said the dog had been stabbed. Because of the severity of its injuries, the dog was euthanized, police said.
“The (small breed) dog obviously offered no physical threat to the suspect at all,” Cox said on Wednesday.
He said police theorized the dog was injured “out of pure cruelty” or in an effort to keep it from barking.
The residents said a necklace had been stolen from their home.
A 23-year-old woman who lives upstairs said her apartment was vandalized and several items were taken.
A neighbor told police a black man wearing a bandana and a hat, white T-shirt and blue jeans was in the area between 2:30 and 4:45 p.m. and may have been coming from the apartments.
Cox asked that anyone who noticed something suspicious to contact them at 814-445-4596.
The culprit could be charged with burglary, animal cruelty and theft, police said.
Mary Pickels is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-836-5401 or mpickels@tribweb.com.
