Investigation launched after two dogs found killed
EAGLE CREEK, Ore. -- The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office is investigating after an Eagle Creek man reported he found his two dogs had been killed with a sharp object. The two dogs had been missing since Nov. 13.
Deputies looking into the incident said Japheth Stalcup, 25, called 9-1-1 on Nov. 15 to report he had found the remains of his dogs, Duke and Buddy, on a steep embankment in a wooded area behind his property, which is located southeast of Portland in Eagle Creek.
Stalcup told investigators it appeared the dogs had been hit with an ax several times, deputies said. One of the dogs was tossed from a cliff after it was killed. The other dog was found about 150 yards away.
"I don't understand why anybody would do this," said Rose Stalcup. "It really hurts to know that we live in a world where people can be this cruel."
"It was bad people who killed them," said 5-year-old Ethan Stalcup.
The remains of both dogs were taken in for examination by the Oregon Humane Society, who confirmed that both dogs died from "blows from some sort of sharp implement."
Deputies said the injuries suffered by the dogs ruled out some sort of attack by another animal.
The Stalcup family said their dogs did not have any run-ins with anyone recently and they have no idea why anyone would want to hurt them.
"If someone did have a problem with us or our dogs, I wish that they would have come to us first or said something before they even thought or, thought of any, doing anything like this to our dogs," Rose Stalcup said.
Buddy was a Labrador/Blue Healer mix and Duke was a black Labrador, deputies said. The dogs' ages were not specified.
The Oregon Humane Society is offering a reward of up to $500 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and prosecution of any suspects in this case. The group In Defense of Animals also offered a reward of $2,500.
"We are taking this very seriously and I pray that whoever did this has the nerve to come forth and maybe confess," said Rose Stalcup. "Or hopefully someone who does know any information about it will come forward."
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office's confidential Tip Line at 503-723-4949 or by using the online email form. Please reference case No. 12-34107.
Flippin cowards!! Let me catch you and I will will ........ I swear I will....  I WILL go to jail to protect the weak.Â
Karma is a bit$h !!!
Usually I am critical of pet or the average run of the mill animal stories here because they simply just aren't news.
This on the other hand is way different. Someone who is capable of doing this to someones pets may be capable of other atrocities and should at the very lease be under the care of a good shrink.
Horrible.
I know that this is tragic but I think that the sherriffs departments attention should be placed on the real problems.
 @Jstgttnbye Real? You think if someone can do this to an animal that maybe they could do it to you or your friends? Or your kids? Do you not realize that serial killers kill animals? You are not directly affected yet.
 @Jstgttnbye To many of us, having two four-legged family members getting killed by an axe and one of their bodies thrown off a cliff IS considered a real problem.
@Jstgttnbye So bear with me for a minute, a male takes to killing animals dogs/cats but no one seemed to notice, over time he became an aid to an elected official in Wa. State and developed an interest in women, soon he began killing women then after many lives were lost he was convicted, exhaused his appeals and was executed in Starke, Fl.........Just think Ted Bundy started off killing defenceless animals...thus is this NOT important?
If memory serves, there is a leash law in that county and if not then one needs to install the electric fence to keep their dogs at home. Got called too many dead dog call outs in the sticks and it never ceased to amaze me that folks thought it was perfectly OK to let their dogs run loose - you end up with what you got...
 @boned while htis is true, it gives no one the right to Kill an Animal, we had a person today seeking the owner of a dog, she took its picture and was showing it to people on the block, She did a different kind of shooting.. Now How ever the person who keeps losing his dog is about to be reported to the humane society for failing to protect his animal. I fear for the animal that it may get injured or killed and die a slow and agonizing death.
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There are those who should not own any animal.
 @boned Oh the said dog is far from viscous lol unless you call a very fast tongue licking you in the face Assault. .
Before you comdemn this act please keep in mind. People are responsible to keep their pet on THEIR property, period. Irresponsible pet owners have no idea what happens when the allow their pets to roam. Farm animals are chased, attacked, maimed, injured and killed by these so call family pets. We have had Llamas and Alpacas attacked by free roaming dogs. I was stalked by two of our neighbors dogs after they attacked a Llama, BBs from my .410 changed their minds. I have NO qualms in doing away with stray dogs on my property.  As a pet owner, you are liable for two and one half times my animals value if your pet is responsible for it's death.
 @mike633 As a human you are made in the image of God. Do you think God would kill an animal this way? You have good points, but there is still a call for humanity.
@mike633 YES I condem this act and the person(s) that did it.....I live in a more rural area than most with acreage, have several dogs that are all of the same family. In an effort to maintain peace among the other landowners, some who had livestock I built a very secure area (1 plus acres) with 6' high fencing with dig guards and cameras. None of them ever get out, however a farmer that owned the farm next to mine was caught standing on his property shooting at my dogs in their fenced area.....He was a lousy shot but I heard the gun shots, brought the dogs in, viewed the video, confronted the shooter and told him that the next time he shot at my dogs inside their fenced area I would shoot his kids, and his wife in front of him and then him......A year later he moved.
Even though I understand your point, I think the wounds are more indicative of intentional cold blooded violence. If they had been shot, that would be another story.
 @iamtroglodite I have been thinking about this story all day, as I live in Eagle Creek and also have a lot of property and big dogs.
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My first inclination was to worry about my dogs and lock them up, as they do run our property sometimes (if you live in the suburbs it is a totally different attitude of course).
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Upon reading it further (the dogs were killed, with an axe, BEHIND his property in a wooded area) the following POSSIBLE scenario has entered my mind.
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You are a guy who lives out in the middle of nowhere, a place where alternative fuels such as wood are needed. If our power goes out it can be days before it is restored. You take your axe with you because... well, because you're chopping wood, of course. You're in a wooded area because...well, because that is the sort of place in which one tends to find wood. :-)
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Suddenly you're attacked by two dogs. You didn't bring your gun. Why would you- you're just chopping wood? True enough, if my husband or I goes into the woods we always carry just in case we run across a cougar, but let's keep in mind that not everybody thinks ahead in that manner- not even rednecks.
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What do you do? You grab the only weapon you have (an axe) and you neutralize the threat. These are good sized dogs that can do some damage, and when dogs are roaming together they are often in pack mentality. And you make sure that threat can't come after you again.
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Now, I am not saying that IS what happened. I am just evaluating the circumstances and keeping it in mind as a possible explanation. Because believe me, if it comes down to me being mauled or a couple of dogs dying, guess what's gonna happen? Now sure, he should have called the sheriff or AC. That said, I can also see the possible hesitation of doing so or the attitude of "F that dog owner- these stupid dogs have come at me twice already, and they won't do it again".
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Just keeping an open mind, that is all.
@WhenCowsAttack @iamtroglodite The two dogs that attacked my Llama then came at me were big dogs, One was a Golden Retriver, the other , an Australian sheppard. Bottom line, keep your dog at home and quiet.
@iamtroglodite  There are many people that do not own firearms. We captured stray dogs and located their owners, then had them come over to pick up their dogs. We introduced them to our Llamas and Alpacas, explained the liability, that this $10,000 Alpaca could cost them $25,000. Most dogs were never seen again. Several returned, attacked a Llama, ran him through a barb wire fence, then turned on me. I happened to have a shotgun handy, but would have used a shovel or pitchfork to defend myself. I called both owners after the incident BOTH swore their dogs were home all of the time. I told them to check their dogs for BBs. The dogs were NOT killed, but I never saw them again. They finally got the message.Â
 @mike633 What you say is true, but most people in this area do own firearms.
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That doesn't mean they always pack one on their hip when walking through the woods, which they definitely should. The forest service has been tacking signs on doors willy nilly as apparently there is a rogue cougar that enjoys thrill killing livestock.
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Doesn't mean that people are going to display common sense by always taking a gun into the woods, as we all well know, common sense being a rarity in this day and age.
@mike633 I understand that you have to protect your animals but one dog was killed with a axe!
I hope the owner didn't do this and had a plan all the time of getting rid of the dogs starting with reporting them missing. It is a bit suspicious though. Nevertheless I hope bad karma like testicular cancer will strike the perpetrator. because I can't see a woman doing this thing.
What kind of a SICK freak does this to animals?? Anyone who could do this has the potential to be a serial killer (they say its the first signs). Â I cant even imagine how this guy feels finding his 2 dogs like this, do people not understand that animals are people's family members. Â What a sicko!!!
The low-life that did this should recieve a large fine(maybe $5,000 or more) payable to the owner and several months in jail  I have no use for people that do these things to animals they know are pets to someone. If I were to witness this, I would go ballistic on the person. There's no room for these kind of people in our society.
I would like to know where in Eagle Creek this happened! I live in Eagle Creek and also have large dogs. Like most people around here, my dogs are often allowed free on MY property, which is 33 acres and heavily wooded. It would be nice to know if it was anywhere near my land, obviously they will have to remain inside until I learn more.
Extremely sad!!! I just don't quite understand people and how they can hurt an animal. I agree with the statement below, this is a serial killer in the making! I hope they are found and gave the same consideration they gave these beautiful dogs...!! My heart goes to the owners....I am so very sorry for their loss!!
Survival situations aside (i.e. Donner Party) and in the cases of rabid animals or personal defense from Pitbulls, Rottweilers etc, I cannot fathom why anyone would want to harm a dog. I hope they catch this lowlife quickly.
I would have absolutely no problem shooting and killing the responsible persons in this case. I would probably reload and empty all my mags right into his freaking head. Afterwards I would take a leak on the body before calling the trash collector to clean up the scum.
@campergeneral Chill, General. You will do nothing of the kind. You know it, and everyone else knows, too. This kind of wild talk helps nothing.
@Mecha Exactly! I do not want to think about how bad things would get, and how quickly it would go, if we used our emotional responses to solve problems.
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The actions of the individual(s) in this crime disgust me.
Same here! Poor dogs didn't deserve that! :(
I would be wondering if they chased someone off their own property. I would be being very watchful of getting attacked or robbed now that the dogs are not there. That is why my dogs never go outside without me.
By the way, KATU...it's not "Blue Healer" but rather "Blue Heeler" which is a common name for an "Australian Cattle Dog" which may be blue, red, white or any combination thereof.
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They were named "Heelers" for their tendency to bite at the heels of cattle (or any other creature they desire to herd) to get them to move.
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When born, most heelers start out almost completely white but will develop their characteristic coloring as they grow and their colored undercoat grows in.
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Known for their intelligence, loyalty, protectiveness and work ethic, Cattle Dogs are excellent dogs for people who want an active and capable companion. They require daily exercise and love to have a job to do, and are not good dogs for people who seek a sedentary pet.
Serial Killer in the making. Disgusting POS!Â
 @MrAchilles I get the impression this was done by two individuals.  I cannot imagine any one person getting away without injuries unless the dogs were  tied up separately in separate locations.  Teenage boys are the most likely suspect in my mind.  If the dogs were aggressive you can bet the perp got bitten.
@David Weverka @MrAchilles If the dogs were aggressive, maybe that's why they are dead.
@Mechanic....Wise up. If they were aggrssive on their property, so be it. My dog is aggressive to strangers who come to the door and would probably attack if I let him. He's protecting my property, and if someone killed him for that reason, when I found out who did it, I'd kill him.
Time for the person(s) that did this to pay the piper just as these poor dogs did. I am off today and am sitting here with all of my dogs sitting around me as I type this.....The intentional murder of domesticated animals should always be at a minimum a class C felony and a lifetime prohibition barring any animal ownership.....IMHO the only justification is in self defence and these dogs do NOT look aggressive in nature.
@FreerideNOT I don't always agree with your (or anyones posts, for that matter) but your coment about being off today and sitting there with all of my dogs sitting around you, that pretty well says it all. A very profound thing. Every time I read about some pos abusing any animal, especialy if they have a pic, I give my mutt a big hug and promise him it will never happen to him. I admit I literaly cried a little when I saw the pic of the puppy that worthless punk punched a while back, and now this.
Find the SOB(s) responsible and give THEM the axe.
There is not one single valid excuse for this kind of cruelty.
 @Mikey Actually there is. In rural areas some people let their dogs run which is fine until they cross property lines and chase live stock, kill chickens, and threaten people on their own land as well as get tangled with other pets. The outcome is sometimes not favorable to the animal when it is the owner(s) who are at fault.
 @oops  @Mikey Mikey was talking about the cruelty of attacking animals or fun so I'm not sure what your point is there oops.  If this was someone defending themselves or property they would have called the police to report it.  Are you just playing devils advocate with scenarios that don't apply?
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 @oops Somehow I don't think this is quite the same thing.
But I appreciate your comment.
And if a person were to do that, under those circumstances, they would have called the police to report the incident.
This person did not use a gun, they used a sharp object. It is highly doubtful it was someone protecting their land. This was done as practice.  Very sad!!!!
Yeah I just do not understand these types of people, kids, whoever.  Animals are the most innocent of creatures. so sad.
 @MrAchilles ~ I agree, MrAchilles... this was "up close and personal", as opposed to, eg: shooting a dog that is chasing your livestock or threatening your kids or pets...  Really awful and way beyond cruelty...
Poor pups!
Zero tolerance for this kind of cruelty! Lock them & toss the key......better yet send them to a jail in a foreign country!
 @Mike Julie Ellis ~  Yeah... maybe we should make a deal with Russia... there's lots of room in Siberia..Â
Absolutely heartbreaking.I don't know all of the details but I have to say: Always keep a eye on your dogs 24/7 because there really are your children.
Serial killer or po'd neighbor? Very sad.
@Lips Serial killer. Po'd neighbors use guns.
 @MrAchilles  @Lips You have to be a very sick individual to do this. What's really sad is they must have been defending each other, rather than one or the other running away. Or both? Did the dogs know and trust this person? Serial killer.
 @Tom dogboy Collins Hopefully they'll know soon. It's just brutal enough to give ya a chill. All possible culprits have deep and scary issues, and need to be identified.