Owner of dog found abandoned in duffel bag arrested

Authorities have arrested the owner of a dog that was found abandoned in a large duffel bag at a wildlife area in south-central Wisconsin. Columbia County investigators say 56-year-old Terri Lynn Benson is the owner of a labrador named Misty.

Richards urged pet owners who can no longer take care of their animals or have them euthanized to contact a veterinary service or the county humane society.

Benson is scheduled to appear in Columbia County Circuit Court on Monday, January 25.

Authorities say a group of hunters found Misty on Thursday in a parking lot.

The Columbia County Humane Society and Portage Veterinary Clinic are taking care of Misty. But executive director Susan Bratcher tells Channel 27 News it may be a while before she’s able to leave, due to the extent of her injuries and the tumor needing to be tested. CCHS said the dog is on antibiotics and pain medication.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Department is investigating this incident.

“Please do not take the matter into your own hands to prevent family pets from suffering like this black lab has”, the sheriff said.

At about 5 p.m. Thursday, according to the Sheriff’s Office, dispatch received a call from people who had been hunting crows in the town of Fort Winnebago, just north of Portage.

The veternaian said she has a very large mammary tumor and needed immediate attention for her head wounds.

Questions of whether the dog will be available for adoption depend largely on the outcome of the investigation and on the dog’s health.