Provincial police are investigating after a dog was found frozen to death inside a cage left by the Thames River, southeast of Thamesford.
The grim discovery was made on Tuesday on the east side of the 15th Line just south of Road 64 in Zorra Township. It prompted a local animal shelter to post an appeal on social media for information about what it calls "an unbelievable act of animal cruelty."
The operator of Kismutt Rescue wrote the female Staffordshire Terrier was found dead, inside a black wire cage left down a steep embankment, beside the river.
"This dog was left to freeze to death, and is dead. It is frozen solid," reads Kimberly Thomas' Facebook post. "Her lips are frozen so it was difficult for me to see her teeth, but she does not look that old from what I can see."
Thomas went on to say there was evidence the animal did try to escape from the cage before succumbing to freezing temperatures. She says the dog was approximately 55-65 lbs and had had puppies in the past.
Oxford OPP say a red and white floral patterned blanket was inside the cage and a silver metal prong collar was found on the dog. However, no to other tags were located.
Thomas' Facebook post has been shared more than 10,000 times.
The Ontario SPCA is assisting police with the investigation. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call police at 519-485-6554 or 1-888-310-1122.