Newport Beach animal control officers are trying to determine how a dog ended up dead in the ocean over the weekend with a cinder block attached to its harness and leash, authorities said.

Orange County Harbor Patrol officers received a call at 3:05 p.m. Saturday from a private towing vessel that spotted a large dog with short brown fur one mile west of the Newport Pier, said Newport Beach police spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella.

A Harbor Patrol boat found the dog and contacted Newport Beach police. A Newport Beach animal control officer and police investigator collected the dog’s remains, which “appeared to have been in the water for an extended amount of time,” Manzella said.

No ID tags or microchip was found on the dog, and its breed was not yet determined Tuesday night. It was not clear if the animal died before being put in the ocean.

Potential charges, if any, are too early to determine until an investigation is complete, Manzella said.

“It could be animal cruelty, if the dog was purposely drowned, it could be improper disposal if the dog was deceased before being weighted down and put in the water,” she said. “Or another charge altogether if a different scenario unfolds.”

Contact the writer: 714-796-2478 or lcasiano@ocregister.com