'An act of pure evil': Five dogs brutally killed in Montgomery County

Editor's note: This story contains graphic content and may be triggering for some viewers/readers.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) - The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office has launched an investigation into a disturbing case of animal cruelty.

On Wednesday night, deputies responded to McTaggart's Dam, where five dogs had been "brutally" shot and left to die in the open. The sheriff’s office described the act as "pure evil."

"This was not hunting. This was not self-defense. This was slaughter," Sheriff Ron Wade stated. "The senseless killing of innocent animals is not only unacceptable, but also a violation of
everything we stand for in this community. We do not tolerate cruelty, and we will use every
resource available to find who did this. If you think for one second that we’re going to let
this slide, you’re wrong."

The scene was discovered by a citizen who had gone to the area, which is common for fishing and socializing.

The investigation is ongoing.

If anyone has any information, they are asked to contact the sheriff's office at 620-330-1000 or message its Facebook page. Tipsters can request to remain anonymous.

"Together, we can send a clear message that our community will not stand for cruelty—to
animals, to people, or to the values we share," Wade said. "Let’s find who did this. Let’s make sure they never do it again."