Mutilated 'dogs' more likely coyotes

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AUBURN, Wash., April 6 (UPI) -- The skinned carcasses of three dog-like animals were found along a road in the Seattle area, police said.

The animals were originally believed to be dogs when the employee of a nearby bar found them Tuesday night on Kent-Black Diamond Road near Auburn, KOMO-TV in Auburn reported. But investigators announced Wednesday they were more likely to be coyotes.

Sgt. John Urquhart said coyote trapping and shooting is common in the area, with the animals sometimes being skinned and the bodies tossed aside.

"This just doesn't happen to dogs, especially three of them," Urquhart said. "It's just from a statistical standpoint, it's very unlikely these are dogs."

Even if the carcasses prove to be coyotes, dumping them was still illegal, Urquhart said.