posted 10-03-2002 12:01 AM           

LA CRESCENTA -- Glendale Police are looking for someone who stabbed a dog to death and put it in an unlocked car.

A man told police he left his car unlocked and with a window down in the 3700 block of Fourth Avenue on Monday and returned to find a dead Rottweiler in his driver's seat, according to the police report.

Someone had stabbed the dog several times.

It was not known whose dog it was.

"[The victim] did not know the owner or the dog," Glendale Police spokeswoman Officer Leticia Chang said. "He didn't have any problems with anybody as far as any retaliation goes. He believes the only reason he was targeted was because the car was unlocked and the windows were down."

Animal cruelty can be a felony or misdemeanor charge and carry a sentence of up to one year in jail and a $20,000 fine.

Incidents of animal cruelty are not common in Glendale, Chang said. In August, someone skinned a large rat and left it in a see-through plastic bag tied to an office door.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 548-4818. Anonymous tips can be made to Glendale Crime Stoppers at 507-7867. A reward of up to $1,000 is available upon an arrest.