Pit bulls hanged in backyard

LYNNWOOD, Wash. – A dog owner who said he awoke early Thursday to the sounds of his two pit bulls barking found them hanged by their necks with a rope over his backyard fence, Lynnwood police said.

The man found one dog limp and the other struggling, police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said in a statement.

The dog owner, who was not identified, said he tried to help the struggling dog but it bit him in its panic. He ran back inside to get something to cut the rope and when he returned both dogs were dead.

Killed were Peanut, a 1-year-old male, and Wiggles, a 10-month-old female.