Duluth police investigate after wounded dog dropped off at veterinary clinic

Police said a woman called the Duluth Animal Shelter on Wednesday morning to identify herself as the person who anonymously dropped off the dog at the Waters Edge Veterinary Clinic on Jan. 31. Authorities had issued a call Tuesday for information about the woman, in order to learn how the dog received its injuries.

The woman had told the veterinary clinic on Jan. 31 that the yellow-and-white female pit bull mix was found on U.S. Highway 53 near the Miller Hill Mall and that it had been hit by a car. However, police said, the dog’s injuries weren’t consistent with being hit by a vehicle -- but were consistent with being in a fight with another animal.

In her phone call Wednesday, the woman told authorities that she was not the owner of the dog. She said the dog had been outside on its chain when it was attacked by the owner’s other dog, a Rottweiler. The owner and caller didn’t see the initial attack, but heard noises outside and saw that the pit bull had significant injuries to its body, including the throat, according to police. The Rottweiler was the only other dog in the yard.

The woman brought the dog to the animal shelter on behalf of the owner, who didn’t have enough money to pay for the dog’s treatment or for the dog to be euthanized, according to police. The woman said she told the clinic staff that the dog was a stray in the hopes that the dog would be treated or euthanized.

Police said Wednesday that they found the caller's story to be consistent with the dog’s injuries.

The pit bull’s name is Jasmine and she continues to recover at a local veterinarian hospital, authorities said.