Published: 4/12/2018 8:53:50 PM
SHELBURNE FALLS — Scout, the disabled dachshund in the stylish purple dog cart, was one of the friendly canines that often greet people and pets who come to Eddie’s Wheels on State Street.
But last week, the dog went missing and was found dead in his cart, on some Deerfield River boulders just below the dam along Conway Street. His owners, Leslie and Ed Grinnell of Eddie’s Wheels, are offering a $1,000 reward for any information about Scout’s disappearance or death.
According to Ed Grinnell, the 8- or 9-year-old dog was last seen in the yard of Eddie’s Wheels between 10:30 and 11 a.m. on April 2. Scout was reported missing to the Buckland and Shelburne police, who found the dog’s body near the Conway Street riverbank two days later, at about 8 p.m.
Grinnell said the dog would not have left the yard on his own, and could not have climbed down the riverbank behind Eddie’s Wheels, which is covered with brush. Grinnell had a hunter/tracker walk his property, looking for any tracks from Scout or his dog cart. Also, Grinnell said, X-rays of the dog’s stomach show he was fed sometime between the time of his disappearance and his death.
“He was either put there or thrown there,” Grinnell said of the dog’s death. “He could have never gotten there on his own.”
Grinnell said the animal’s head and shoulders were in the water; but the back of the cart was dry. He said water stains on the 10-inch diameter wheels went up to about 4 inches. Grinnell said the dog would have come out of the cart if he had fallen into the water.
Buckland Police Sgt. Kurt Gillmore is investigating and the Police Department is assisting the animal control officer, said Police Chief James Hicks. Grinnell is the assistant animal control officer for Buckland.
Anyone with information about the dog’s whereabouts between April 2 and 4 are asked to call Grinnell at 413-834-2951.