Bodies of 7 dogs, shot and with broken necks, found along Union County road

The Union County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help after seven dogs were found shot and killed along the same road.

According to deputies, the bodies of the dogs were found along Morgan Academy Road last Friday but appear to have been there for some time.

Pawsitive Impact NC Dog Rescue, a North Carolina-based rescue group, posted a message on Facebook claiming it went to the location and took the bodies of the dead animals, who reportedly had been shot and had broken necks.

“We took two of the dog’s bodies to Ballantyne Veterinarian Clinic and [the veterinarian] confirmed the gunshot wounds and broken necks,” the rescue group posted.

The animals are believed to be hunting dogs, but deputies say no microchips were found to help identify their owner.

The group also posted photos of what it called a “very gruesome, heartbreaking scene” in hopes that someone might know something or recognize the dogs.

The dogs were expected to be cremated.

“Every dog will leave this earth with dignity and will have a name,” they wrote. “It is the least that we could do after what some horrible human(s) did to them.”

The rescue group gave these names to the animals: Sophie, Scarlett, Ingrid, Rhett, Clyde, Baker and Bailey.

Anyone who knows anything about the dogs is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 704-283-3789 or Crime Stoppers at 704-283-5600.

WBTV is the Observer’s news partner.

This story was originally published January 29, 2017 at 10:28 PM with the headline "Bodies of 7 dogs, shot and with broken necks, found along Union County road."