14-year-old suspect arrested for dog abuse

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested for the alleged abuse and abandonment of “Bridger,” the dog that was found injured on July 21 at Falls Park in Post Falls. Detectives with the Post Falls Police Department worked the case over the past few weeks, following up on numerous leads reported to the agency, officials said. The public’s assistance helped lead to the arrest of the suspect, who is in custody, according to a news release. The boy told police that he was unhappy with the dog and chose to injure him and push him into the old Corbin ditch at Falls Park to be left to die. “Bridger” was discovered and rescued and treated by Post Falls Police and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. However, the dog eventually was euthanized due to medical conditions more related to age than abuse, police said. The boy has been charged with cruelty to animals and is currently being held in the Kootenai County juvenile correctional facility. He will go before a magistrate on Monday morning, at which time a bond will be set, a news release from the police department said.