Stabbed Traverse City dog Bruno recovering in foster home

Bruno is recovering in a foster home after Traverse City police say the two-year-old pitbull-Staffordshire terrier was stabbed more than six times and left in the woods off Fitzhugh Drive.

Police said the case began with an anonymous call on Friday, May 1, 2026, reporting a man abusing a dog in Traverse City. Investigators said 19-year-old Zachary Beckham admitted stabbing the dog and led officers to the wooded area where Bruno was found. Police also said they found no signs of bite marks on Beckham, despite his claim that the dog had come at him aggressively. Officers believed Beckham wrapped Bruno in a towel, took him into the woods, stabbed him multiple more times and left him there.

Beckham was arraigned Monday, May 4, 2026, and is being held on 10 percent of a $25,000 bond. A preliminary exam is scheduled for May 22, 2026. Under Michigan law, knowingly killing or torturing an animal is a felony, and first-degree animal torture carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and or a fine of up to $5,000.

Bruno was rushed to Bay Area Pet Hospital for emergency surgery and was expected to recover. Cherryland Humane Society said it tapped its emergency vet fund to help cover the medical bills, and later fundraising helped pay for the dog’s care. The group said Bruno is now recovering through Grand Traverse County Animal Control in a foster home, a step that gives him time to heal after injuries that could easily have been fatal.

The case has also raised broader concerns about violence beyond the dog itself. Cherryland Humane Society said it highlights the connection between animal abuse and domestic violence, especially because Beckham was reportedly on probation in a domestic violence case. For Grand Traverse County residents, the story is no longer only about one shocking attack on Fitzhugh Drive. It is also about how quickly a felony animal-cruelty case can move through local courts, how humane groups and veterinarians step in to keep a wounded animal alive, and whether warning signs are being taken seriously enough before an animal ends up fighting for survival.