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A photo posted Sunday, March 12, 2017 on Facebook by Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell shows a dog that was found dead with its mouth and feet bound by electrical tape four days earlier in Vienna Township.

(Courtesy Photo)

WARNING: Graphic images in the story

VIENNA TWP, MI -- A dog found dead with its' face and feet bound with electrical tape has led to an investigation by the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Robert Pickell posted a pair of photos Sunday, March 12 on his Facebook page of a mixed-breed Shih Tzu that was found deceased four days earlier approximately 40 yards from the South Creek Mobile Home Park in Vienna Township.

A photo posted Sunday, March 12, 2017, on Facebook by Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell shows a dog that was found dead with its mouth and feet bound by electrical tape four days earlier in Vienna Township.

"My office is actively investigating this case. It is imperative the individual responsible for this gruesome act is caught, and not allowed to do this to another defenseless animal," said Pickell. "This is truly one of the most disturbing cases I have seen in my years of law enforcement."

The dog was brought to his attention after a passerby traveling around 5:45 p.m. March 8 near Frances and Saginaw roads spotted the dog.

Pickell said the animal appeared to have been in the area for a length of time before it was found.

The discovery comes around one month after Pickell displayed photos from another animal abuse case involving two dogs found malnourished and beaten in the 2200 block of Mt. Elliot Avenue on Flint's north side after reports of a person beating two dogs with a metal pipe.

Lavelle Gullette, 52, faced one count of animals abandoning/cruelty to 2 or 3 animals, which carried a potential sentence of up to one year in jail, $1,000 fine, or no more than 300 hours of community service.

He pleaded no contest March 7 in Genesee District Court to a reduced charge of abandoning animals and ordered to pay a $375 fine, according to district court records.

Pickell has asked for an increased punishment in cases involving animals.

"We've got to encourage people that have pets or activists to get a hold of their legislators to encourage them to enhance the punishment on cruelty or animal neglect," he previously said.

Anyone with information about the dog has been asked to contact Detective Sgt. Jason Murphy of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office at 810-686-8622.