Mike Branch was looking for a dog lost by Florida travelers when he saw another dog in a ditch this morning — a dog dead with duct tape wrapped around its muzzle.

The dog was found on Highway 48 between Gaston and Pleasant Hill about a half mile past Interstate 95 in Northampton County.

Branch said when he called the sheriff’s office he was told someone had called Friday and an investigation was being conducted.

County Animal Cruelty Investigator Karen Cole said it appeared the dog had not been there long, perhaps a day or so.

She said there were three pieces of duct tape around the mouth and eyes and it appeared the dog’s neck may have been broken although it was difficult to determine until further investigation is completed.

She said the dog did not appear to be starved although it was thin.

While the technique of taping dog’s snouts is used on bait dogs in dogfighting, there were no other marks on the body, Cole said.

John Goodwin, an expert in animal fighting issues with the Humane Society of the United States, said it appears the muzzle was bound so the dog would be defenseless as it was tortured.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Northampton County Crimestoppers at 252-534-1110.