An island in Washington state is the scene of what officials say looks like “the beginning of a horror movie” after 21 dead pigs were found washed ashore in recent days – and authorities still don’t know where they came from.
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The Skagit County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release that it is currently investigating the death of the dogs, which have been found on the shores and waters of Guemes Island – about 80 kilometers north of Seattle – since last Thursday.
On Wednesday, the dogs were taken to a veterinarian, where necropsies and DNA tests were performed, the release said.
Most of the bodies have been found on or near the island called Kelly’s Point throughout the week, and more were found Thursday, Gomez Island Fire Chief Olivia Cole told NBC News on Friday.
“The Skagit County Search team went out by boat and on foot to look for more, and they were able to find eight more,” said Cole, who is also a dog breeder on the island. “We have a total of 21 now.”
Officials do not know where the dogs came from or how they washed ashore.
Guemes Island is about 8 miles long and is a 5-minute boat ride from Anacortes, Washington, on the mainland. The island was historically named “Island of the Dog” because of the Salish fur dogs that once lived there.
Cole said the community is full of speculation. “This whole island is talking, and there are rumors, because we get big tanks that come here, and we know that there are breeders on other islands,” he said.
“So everyone has all kinds of thoughts going around, but we won’t confirm anything until the necropsy comes back,” he said.
All the bodies that washed ashore had been skinned, Cole said, and some were missing their front paws. Two dogs found on the beach also had “orange twine” tied around their necks.
“I personally didn’t see any gunshot wounds or signs that would indicate anything like a dog fighting ring,” Cole said.
“It’s a scary mystery here,” Cole said. “That’s what I keep saying, it’s like the beginning of a horror movie, honestly.”
Alexie Gregory, 41, a resident of Guemes Island for nine years, saw the bodies at Kelly’s Point on Tuesday.
He says he has never seen anything like this.
“It was very scary to see one and then, actually, five minutes away, we found another one,” Gregory said. “I think we got a total of 10 or 11 that day, and by the end of it, I was numb. I was just in awe.”
The bodies appear to be about the same size, Cole said, with some measuring the length of a woman’s size 9½ shoe and others larger, compared to “the size of a fox”.
Cole also noted that they appeared to be of the same species, and “had black and white paws on their backs.”
“We don’t have a final confirmation on them if they are coyotes, if they are at home, or something else,” he said.
The island community of about 600 is on the move.
“This is what we’re talking about here,” Cole said. “Wherever you go, down at the local store, we’re all talking about these washed-up bodies and how we want to catch that person.”
