BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) – A Boulder woman is heartbroken after her dog was found skinned late last month.

“He was the most wonderful amazing dog,” said the dog’s owner Betsy Imig. “My dog’s name was Dr. PB or Precious Baby.”

Imig let the male Maltese out of her house into the front yard about 5 a.m. Sept. 26 and he disappeared, according to police.

“I got Dr. PB as a little Maltese he thought he was a doberman in a little Maltese body,” said Imig.

A short time later animal control officers found a dead dog near 19th Street and Iris Avenue.

“Neighbors found him skinned, lying in front of a house, with his Broncos shirt lying beside him,” said Imig.

The dog had been partly skinned and the officers sent him to Colorado State University for a necropsy. Those doctors say blunt force trauma killed the dog.

“They were able to definitely say it was not from a predator,” said Boulder Animal Control spokeswoman Janeé Boswell. “You can see it was from a sharp device rather than ripping and tearing we’d see from a typical predator.”

Imig said she can’t believe anyone could do this to her beloved pet.

“He was my life, my companion, he was everything to me,” said Imig.

So far the crime is unsolved.

Additional Resources

Officials with the Boulder Police Department released the following information about this case:

Anyone who may have heard or seen anything in connection with this crime is urged to call Supervisor Janeé Boswell, Boulder Police Animal Control, at 303-441-1874.

Those who have information but wish to remain anonymous may contact the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-444-3776. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at http://www.crimeshurt.com. Those submitting tips through Crime Stoppers that lead to the arrest and filing of charges on a suspect(s) may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers.

Suzanne McCarroll is a general assignment reporter at CBS4. Her stories can regularly be seen on CBS4 News at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Connect with her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @SuzanneCBS4.