Animal lover, 60, gruesomely beaten to death as he tried rescuing dog from abusive neighbor
A Michigan animal lover was brutally beaten to death after trying to save a dog from an abusive neighbor, police said.
Robert “Bobby” Cavanaugh, 60, died on Christmas Eve after the fatal altercation.
He was cycling through Madison Heights when he saw a man attacking a dog and went to intervene, neighbors said Fox2.
The situation escalated and Cavanaugh was reportedly beaten with a metal pipe and later succumbed to his injuries.
He was found bleeding profusely at the scene around 7:40 p.m. Investigators said he died of blunt force trauma.
‘Without hesitation, Bobby tried to stop that man, but instead Bobby was beaten to death with a pipe. This man is a repeat offender and has been released from two different lengthy prison sentences,” his sister Jane Thompson wrote in one GoFundMe page.
“Bobby had a heart of gold and would do whatever he could to help the community in any way he could, and would never ask for a dime.
‘He did everything from his heart.
Michigan animal lover Robert ‘Bobby’ Cavanaugh was brutally beaten to death after trying to save a dog from an abusive neighbor
Cavanagh was reportedly cycling through Madison Heights when he saw a man hitting a dog and tried to intervene
“He was a man who loved the Lord and always gave back whenever he could, especially all the animals.”
The police have now arrested a suspect who they say is an acquaintance, but have not released his name.
Charges will be determined pending an investigation by the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim and his family at this tragic time,” the Madison Heights Police Department said in a statement.
Neighbor Rebecca Spencer described how the incident unfolded after Cavanaugh confronted the man who said he was just disciplining his animal.
“I think it’s a ‘You’re not going to tell me how to raise my dog,’” Spencer shared WXYZ.
“The fact that he lost his life because of a dog… that’s who he was. He had run into a burning house to get a guinea pig.’
A fundraising campaign set up to cover funeral costs has now surpassed its original target of $4,000 and raised more than $12,000.
Investigators have identified the suspect but have not yet released his name
The local community also plans to hold a candlelight vigil in Cavanaugh’s honor tonight.
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Madison Heights Police Department for an update on the investigation.
It comes after a Seattle woman saw a dog being abused in her neighbor’s home and alerted a local politician who intervened and rescued the puppy after police and animal control officials were reluctant to help.