Dead dog found tied to shovel buried on beach in Marina del Rey

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (KABC) -- A group of canoers discovered a disturbing case of animal cruelty in Marina del Rey.

As five canoers made their way along Mother's Beach, two of them spotted a shovel sticking out of the water near the shoreline.

When they approached the shovel, the canoers realized a dead dog was tied to it.

The dog appeared to have been tied to the shovel that was buried deep in the sand, and unable to get away, drowned as the tide came in.

The Los Angeles County Animal Control and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department were investigating.

Officials said the dog had an identification tag.

If you have any information that can aid in their investigation, you're urged to call the sheriff's department at (310) 582-6000.