WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Dog Beaten and Buried Alive, Suspect Due in Court

Bellows Falls, Vermont - March 6, 2008

A 14-year-old Jack Russell terrier is expected to recover fully after police say he was beaten to the brink of death and buried in a snow bank.

Police say the attack on the dog, named Rudy, stemmed from a dispute between neighbors. Now one neighbor is nursing her pet back to health. The other is heading to court.

"It's really discouraging someone could do this to a small, defenseless animal," said Sgt. David Bemis of the Bellows Falls Police Dept.

Police were called to Wells Street in Bellows Falls shortly after midnight Tuesday.

"The owner of the dog called and said the neighbor had killed the dog and had a gun and we responded to that," Bemis said. "I believe the dog had supposedly nipped at somebody and it escalated from there."

Police who responded to the call didn't find the gun -- or the dog.

"We spoke with the owner of the dog, who was quite upset," Bemis said. "We located the accused and talked to him for a while. He initially denied any knowledge of it, and then admitted it and took us to where he had buried the dog. We thought the dog was probably dead. We dug into the snow, and he was buried six to twelve inches below the snow. And we saw the dog was moving. We scooped up the dog, wrapped it in some blankets and rushed it to the vet clinic."

Dr. Vincent DiBernardo said the dog was in such bad shape he didn't think he'd survive. The dog had swelling around its nose and was suffering from severe shock, meaning its organs were beginning to shut down.

By Thursday, the dog was eating again and the veterinarian considered him well enough to go home. He's expected to recover fully in two or three weeks.

"He went home with medication and orders to rest," Dr. DiBernardo said.

Edward Grysko, 61, was arrested on a charge of aggravated cruelty to animals. A phone message was left for him seeking comment on the case, but was not returned. He is due in Windham County District Court in Brattleboro on April 1 on a charge of aggravated cruelty to animals. Police said Grysko has no history of animal abuse.

Kate Duffy - WCAX News