GUEMES ISLAND, Wash. — The number of canines that have washed up on beaches of Guemes Island in Skagit County has doubled since the bodies were first reported last week.
On March 26, deputies responded to a call about several canines that were found washed up. At that time, six dogs were found.
Since the initial report, deputies and animal control have located an additional five dead canines along the shoreline on Guemes Island.
And on March 31, one additional canine was found floating in the La Conner Channel.
On April 2, investigators updated KIRO 7 to say that eight more canines were found on Guemes Island’s shoreline, bringing the total to 20 canines.
Investigators said the carcasses were in bad shape.
As of April 3, investigators told KIRO 7 that the total found is about 20-25 carcasses.
The sheriff’s office has not defined whether these were domestic dogs, wolves, foxes or coyotes.
“It’s a creepy mystery out here,” Chief Olivia Cole of Skagit County Fire District 17 said. “Creepy mystery.”
“We were expecting to find maybe three or four because we were told they washed out with the tide,” she said. “We ended up finding ten.”
Cole, an animal lover who also grooms dogs in addition to her public safety work, said this was unlike anything she had ever dealt with.
“Fighting back tears and anger and all the above,” she said. “There is a diabolical person out there, and we need to find out what’s going on.”
Cole said she believes the canines were dogs. According to her, they had no skin, and some had orange twine around their necks.
The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Unit is actively investigating these incidents.
Investigators said they are still working to find out what kind of animal the canines were and are unsure whether the animals were skinned or just decomposed.
“It’s tough to tell and water does weird things to skin,” Lt. Jeff Willard of the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office said.
They do not believe there is a threat to the public but said the carcasses all likely came from the same place.
“It looks like since they were all washing up together, they may have been dumped together,” Willard said.
As of April 3, the necropsy has been completed, and the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office is awaiting lab results and DNA testing.
The sheriff’s office said this could take two to three weeks before they find out exactly what the carcasses are.
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