Dog found submerged in water, in a cage

Big Coppitt Key – A dog was found dead in the water off BigCoppitt Key Wednesday. It was in a cage and had not been dead for very long.
A man called Sheriff’s Office dispatchers to report findingthe dead animal. He said he’d been jogging along Boca Chica Road about 5:30 p.m.when he saw what looked like a cage with an animal in it. It was in the wateron the right hand side of the first bridge on the roadway.
Deputy John Gabay responded, along with Florida Keys SPCAOfficer Jared Daeffler. They pulled the cage from the water. Inside was a dog,approximately 30 pounds. The dog was tan and white in color with a white bellyand was wearing a purple fabric collar. The dog may have been some type ofspaniel. It had not been in the water long.
The dog’s body was taken back to the animal control buildingon Stock Island.
Anyone with information about who the dog may have belongedto, or how the dog wound up in the water should contact the Sheriff’s Office at289-2351 or FKSPCA at 305-294-4857.