Rutland police are searching for two men who allegedly beat a dog with a stick in her own front yard Saturday, severely injuring the animal and sending her to a veterinarian for emergency treatment, according to Rutland Regional Animal Control.

The dog, whose name is Abbie, was in her Maple Avenue yard enclosed by an electric fence around noon when two men hopped a stone wall and attacked her, officials said. Abbie and another dog in the yard began barking, catching their owners’ attention, who came outside and saw the men hitting Abbie with a stick, according to animal control. The two men ran from the yard, jumping over the wall into a waiting black sedan, officials said.


Abbie’s injuries were severe, and she was immediately taken for treatment, according to animal control. As of Monday, she was in stable condition and doing much better, officials said.

Rutland Regional Animal Control said they believe this was an isolated and targeted incident, and ask that anyone with knowledge of the situation contact Rutland police at 508-886-4033.