Police searching for suspect who drowned dog with bowling ball

Police say a dog was found drowned with a bowling ball tied to it in a Northern California river and they're looking for a suspect.

The Sacramento Bee reports Sunday that the 12-year-old border collie named Zelda was found in the American River with a leash on its collar tied to a bowling bag with a ball and a rock inside.

Sacramento City Animal Care Manager Gina Knepp says the dog had a microchip that was traced to a Sacramento woman. She told them she'd put the dog in the care of 47-year-old William Meek, who is now being sought as an animal cruelty suspect.

Knepp says Meek told the woman he surrendered the dog to a shelter.

She says a necropsy showed it died from drowning and had neck trauma from the struggle.

This story was originally published September 28, 2014 at 10:47 PM with the headline "Police searching for suspect who drowned dog with bowling ball."