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The mystery involving Peanut hasn't been solved entirely, but investigators are pretty sure they know how the pet died.

When neighbors discov-ered Debbie Zorrozua's dog on her front lawn along 85th Avenue earlier this week, the 10-year-old dachshund mix was missing its spleen.

What struck her veterinarian was that the spleen seemed to have been surgically removed. There was even suspicion that Peanut might have died at the hands of humans.

But based on preliminary necropsy results from animal experts at Wash-ington State University, Peanut probably died by a large dog or coyote shaking it by its neck, said Zorrozua's veterinarian, Dr. Lutz Harfst. The family pet had puncture wounds in the neck area and damaged vertebrae.

The WSU results, however, did not provide a definitive explanation as to why the dog had been cut open and its spleen removed.

"We may never know what happened regarding that," Harfst said.

Zorrozua said she was heartbroken when neighbors found Peanut dead and that she had her beloved pet buried at her mother's ranch. Then her ex-husband offered to hire a private investigator to find out what happened.

Her vet offered to look at Peanut's body himself.

Harfst said he was struck by the fact that the incision into Peanut was clean and not "ripped into" like he would have expected from an animal attack.

Because he doesn't have much experience in necropsies, he sent the dog to the WSU Animal Sciences Department for further examination.

Yakima pet Detective Dave Kellett said late Friday that based on the preliminary findings from WSU, police are leaning toward classifying the cause of death as damage from a predator rather than injuries from mutilation.

"Throughout history, (injuries caused by) predators have been mistaken for mutilation. We see that here," Kellett said. "In fact, it might even be two different animals. Peanut could have been killed by a larger animal and then its spleen removed by a smaller animal, maybe even a bird."

Earlier in the day, he noted that this is the season for increased attacks by predators. The West Valley area where Zorrozua lives also is known for coyotes.

With coyote attacks, Kellett said, there can be a lack of blood and puncture wounds. Coyotes often lap up blood and cause wounds with their teeth that can look like knife wounds.

But he, too, was puzzled by the veterinarian's report of a precise removal of the spleen.

Zorrozua's friends and family are offering a $1,200 reward for information involving Peanut's death. Anyone with information can call her ex-husband, Rick, at 961-8105.

"The general public just doesn't understand what we're going through right now," Zorrozua said.

* Rod Antone can be reached at 577-7628 or rantone@yakimaherald.com.