Dead Canines Are Washing Up On An Island — ‘There is a diabolical person out there’ | The Animal Rescue Site
Matthew Russell
A grim mystery has unsettled coastal Skagit County after at least 20 dead canines washed ashore near Guemes Island over the span of several days.
Olivia Cole
The first discoveries were reported March 26, when multiple carcasses were found on island beaches, and the count continued to rise as more remains appeared along the shoreline and in nearby waters, according to My Bellingham Now.
By April 2, the total had reached 20, KIRO 7 reported. A later update from KOMO News said eight more carcasses were collected from Guemes beaches, pushing the number to 21.
Because recoveries happened in stages, the total has shifted as officials continued gathering remains.
Residents describe a shocking and disturbing scene
People on the island said the carcasses appeared strikingly similar in size and condition. Cascadia Daily News reported that Guemes Island Fire Chief Olivia Cole helped recover bodies and observed that all had been skinned, with front paws removed. Two, she said, had orange twine around their necks.
“There is a diabolical person out there,” Cole said.
Cole told KIRO 7 that she does not believe the animals came from the island itself. She said she knows the local dogs and suspects the bodies were carried in by the tide after being dumped elsewhere.
Authorities seek answers as testing begins
The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office has not yet confirmed whether the animals were domestic dogs, coyotes, foxes, or another species. Investigators told KIRO 7 that water can drastically alter remains, making it difficult to determine whether the bodies were intentionally skinned or badly decomposed.
Still, officials believe the carcasses likely came from the same place. KOMO News reported that the remains were sent to a local veterinarian for forensic necropsy and DNA testing. The sheriff’s office is urging anyone with information to come forward, while a shaken community waits to learn what happened and who may be responsible.
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