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Dog found dead and hidden under blankets, Wisconsin family says. Babysitter arrested

Officials in Wisconsin are investigating the death of a family dog.
Officials in Wisconsin are investigating the death of a family dog. Screengrab from WISN video

Officials in Wisconsin are investigating the death of a family dog, news outlets report.

An 18-year-old babysitter was arrested and accused of cruelty to animals, according to The Freeman.

The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office got a call Jan. 26 after the family’s young daughter found their dog Batman dead in their Sussex home, WTMJ-TV reported.

Initially, the family thought 8-year-old Batman was missing when they couldn’t find him, according to WISN. Then, the girl found him in the home under a pile of blankets and stuffed animals, the family told the news outlet.

Officials said the dog had a possible stab wound and a plastic bag over his head, The Freeman reported.

“That’s kind of scary to think that there’s somebody who would be willing to do that,” a neighbor, Scott Calmes, told WISN. “I can’t imagine why anyone would want to kill a small dog.”

The family said they raised Batman since he was a puppy, WISN reported.

Authorities questioned the babysitter before arresting her, WTMJ-TV reported. She has not been formally charged, according to The Freeman.

Sussex is about 20 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

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This story was originally published January 28, 2024 at 11:56 AM with the headline "Dog found dead and hidden under blankets, Wisconsin family says. Babysitter arrested."

Jennifer Rodriguez
mcclatchy-newsroom
Jennifer Rodriguez is a McClatchy National Real-Time reporter covering the Central and Midwest regions. She joined McClatchy in 2023 after covering local news in Youngstown, Ohio, for over six years. Jennifer has made several achievements in her journalism career, including receiving the Robert R. Hare Award in English, the Emerging Leader Justice and Equality Award, the Regional Edward R. Murrow Award and the Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan Award.
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