FORT MYERS (CBSMiami/AP) — Investigators in southwest Florida are trying to find the person responsible for a horrific case of animal abuse that left a dog dead after it was hanged from a tree.

The male terrier mix was discovered Wednesday hanging from a tree in the Lee County community of Buckingham.

The News-Press reported that the dog appeared to have thrashed around and tried to escape.

Glenn Johnson of the Lee County animal control told the paper that the dog’s killer would face felony charges and said only a “nasty individual” would commit such a crime.

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