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Furry Tails: Humane Officials Near Philly Looking For Leads In Horrific Crime

It's a horrific and devastating blow for a Pennsylvania family.

Buddha and Oliver were family dogs. They lived in the borough of Downingtown, several miles west of Philadelphia. The borough is also where they were found dead together, tossed like garbage into an embankment after going missing separately.

For Buddha and Oliver's owners, the nightmare began on March 31, according to the Brandywine Valley SPCA. That's the day Buddha disappeared.

While Buddha's family was out searching for him, their other dog, Oliver, vanished as well.

At first, the family and humane officials assumed Oliver also went in search of Buddha, but the situation soon took a grim and grisly turn.

A few hours later, the local SPCA says a crew worker in the area found the dogs dead in an embankment, not far from the family's home. Oliver and Buddha had been stripped of their collars and ID tags.

In a press release, the Brandywine Valley SPCA says: "As 13 year residents of Downingtown in the quiet, wooded neighborhood on Sawmill Road, Ollie and Buddha's owners are shocked to have an act so violent and cruel occur in a place where they found such comfort and ease. The BVSPCA is just as alarmed that this would occur in an otherwise safe and secure part of Chester County."

That same crew worker told humane officials that an unfamiliar black pickup truck had been parked nearby on the day the dogs were found dead.

Brandywine Valley SPCA Animal Protective Services is working with the Pennsylvania State Police to investigate the incident. Veterinarians were also examining the dogs' remains.

The local SPCA is also offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects.

Family mourns the killing of their two dogsThe Brandywine Valley SPCA was alerted that a dog was missing from his...

Posted by Brandywine Valley SPCA on Friday, April 1, 2016

As Buddha and Oliver's family mourns the loss of their furry companions, the Brandywine Valley SPCA is warning other Downingtown residents to keep a closer eye on their pets.

They're also urging anyone with information on the case to contact their Humane Law Enforcement officer at 484-302-0019.

KDKA sister station, CBS Philadelphia also reported this story.

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Stay tuned animal lovers for more Furry Tails! You can follow me on Twitter at @HeatherLang24

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