Animal lover, 60, gruesomely beaten to death as he tried rescuing dog from abusive neighbor
A Michigan animal lover was savagely beaten to death after he tried to rescue a dog from an abusive neighbor, cops have said.
Robert 'Bobby' Cavanaugh, 60, died on Christmas Eve following the deadly altercation.
He was riding his bike around Madison Heights when he spotted a man attacking a dog and went over to intervene, neighbors told Fox2.
The situation escalated and Cavanaugh was allegedly battered with a metal pipe, later succumbing to his injuries.
He was found bleeding profusely at the scene at around 7:40 pm. Investigators said he died from blunt force trauma.
'With no hesitation, Bobby tried to stop that man, but instead, Bobby was beaten to death with a pipe this man is a repeated felon, and has been released from 2 different long term prison sentences,' his sister Jane Thompson wrote on a GoFundMe page.
'Bobby had a heart of gold and would do whatever he could to help the community in any way that he could and would never ask for a penny.
'He did everything from his heart.
Michigan animal lover Robert 'Bobby' Cavanaugh was savagely beaten to death after he tried to rescue a dog from an abusive neighbor
Cavanagh was reportedly riding his bike around Madison Heights when he noticed a man beating a dog and tried to intervene
'He was a man that loved the Lord and always gave back whenever he could especially all animals.'
Police have since arrested a suspect who they say is known to them, but have not released his name.
Charges will be determined pending an investigation by the Oakland County Medical Examiner's officer.
'Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim and his family during this tragic time,' 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 believe it was a, "You're not going to tell me how to raise my dog",' Spencer told WXYZ.
'The fact that he lost his life over a dog… that's who he was. He'd run into a burning house to get a guinea pig.'
A fundraiser set up to cover funeral expenses has now surpassed its initial $4,000 goal and raised more than $12,000.
Investigators have identified the suspect but not released his name publicly yet
The local community also plans to hold a candlelit vigil in honor of Cavanaugh this evening.
DailyMail.com has contacted Madison Heights police department for an update on the investigation.
It comes after a Seattle woman spotted a dog being abused inside her neighbor's home and alerted a local politician who stepped in an rescued the puppy after police and animal control were reluctant to help.
