Dog brings home severed foot of a child

[Unamused Cat]

Story/video - http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20...t_found_by_dog

Hargett said police were called to a residence on Circle Drive in Hester Heights subdivision around midnight Saturday when a home owner discovered what he described as a foot that was dragged up by a dog.

The chief said the foot was taken to Russellville Hospital Emergency Room, where a doctor said it was "probably human."

"We then contacted the orthopedic surgeon on call, who confirmed it was a child's foot," Hargett said.

The chief said authorities have been trying to find any kind of evidence that could help them determine if there are other remains in the area, if the foot had been dragged a long distance by the animal or where the dog may have found the remains.

"We've got a lot of questions and no answers at this point," he said. "We need to find out where the remains came from, but at this point, we haven't been able to pinpoint that.

"We're hoping the forensics report will help us at least know the age and gender of the person we're looking for."

Hargett said his department doesn't have any open cases involving missing children.

[SoUncool]

http://www.wztv.com/template/inews_w...ox17.com.shtml

A few additional details...

Teams using dogs weren't able to find additional remains during a daylong search on Sunday. Authorities plan to resume the search Tuesday in hopes that any scent from decomposing remains may be stronger by then.

Police are also checking for reports of missing children.

[mjmsepm]

That would freak me out if fido brought home a foot!!! especially a child's foot! if it is not from a graveyard it is from another child who was killed by a guardian and there is no one else to report this child missing who wants to bet there will be a missing childs report filed so they can blame someone else! I can hardly imagine a kid walking around with only one foot!

[Sister Iroz]

Dogs are miracles with paws. “The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.”

This is so very sad because there is yet another child out there who has lost there life and probably at the hands of there caretaker. I hope they find something to help identify this child. Bless the child!

[SoUncool]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h...E8hzQD93BU0S85

Few more details...still not much.

RUSSELLVILLE, Ala. (AP) — A family dog brought home a child's severed foot, but searchers combing surrounding woods in northwest Alabama found no signs of any other remains and don't know where the child might be.

No children have been reported missing, killed or maimed in or around Russellville. Police Chief Chris Hargett said investigators were studying missing persons reports from nearby areas and sent the severed foot for forensic tests in a bid to narrow the search.

The son of a homeowner spotted the family dog carrying something late Saturday and called his father, who then alerted police. Hargett said an orthopedic surgeon verified that the dog had dragged up a child's bare foot, severed below the ankle.

"A dog could have brought it so far and then another one got it," Hargett said. "It could be miles away."

He added that the foot appeared to have been outdoors only a few days, but he gave no immediate indication whether a child might be found alive or dead.

Searchers plan to head out again Tuesday with dogs in hopes that any scent from decomposing remains may be stronger by then, Hargett added.

Meanwhile, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences was conducting tests to determine the child's age and possibly race and gender.

"We've got to narrow it down," Hargett said.

Russellville, with about 9,000 residents, is located in a heavily wooded, mostly rural part of the state.

[RockRGrl]

I hope this doesn't end like I think it's going to end.

[Unamused Cat]

I hope this doesn't end like I think it's going to end.

This can only end in tears.

[crickett]

I pray that they find the one that this little foot belongs to. If a dog brought this little foot home then this little angel is meant to be found.

[lilbay]

I agree Crickett I believe that it is meant to be as well.
Someone better watch when fido goes out again. If he is like most Labradors he will go back to that body. Sorry I do not buy the whole one dog carried it and then this dog found it story.

[SoUncool]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nat...,5875822.story

The foot was from a BEAR.

[Ruby]

Do not -- I repeat -- DO NOT go to that orthopedic surgeon when you need help. Dang. How can a practicing orthopedist not know that that foot wasn't human.

<wanders off....shaking head and muttering to self.....>

[Dakota Valkyrie]

So are they now out looking for a pissed off bear?

[crickett]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nat...,5875822.story

The foot was from a BEAR.

I just love it! I am Sooooo Happy that it was found to be a bears foot!

[Owd Scrat]

What great news to hear! When I heard this on the news I was so worried! I guess that dumb ass doctor has egg on his face, he shuold have been a tad more careful before making a determination like that.

[mjmsepm]

a bear? seriously a bear...how does a hairy ass foot look like a humans???omg thank goodness it wasnt a child!!

[sorrow_discord]

Do not -- I repeat -- DO NOT go to that orthopedic surgeon when you need help. Dang. How can a practicing orthopedist not know that that foot wasn't human.

<wanders off....shaking head and muttering to self.....>

Okay not that I am an expert in anyway..but at one I was thinking about going to school for Forensic Anthro, whilst debating if I really wanted to do it and if I could actually do it I invested in quite a lot of books about the subject. Now from what I understand this is actually a very common mistake. Bear paws can resemble human hand and even feet to a person who is not trained in human anthro. -shrugs- not sure as to exactly how..sorry...but a few of the books I had read had similar stories like this one here.