Aided by tips from Homewood residents, Pittsburgh police are searching for a man suspected of shooting a dog and cutting off its right front paw.

The dog's body was found in the 7900 block of Susquehanna Street yesterday afternoon. The dog had been shot in the back of the head.

"We have excellent community cooperation in this case," said Zone 5 Cmdr. Rashall Brackney. A warrant for the man's arrest has not been issued yet, "but we are looking at every avenue to expedite this as quickly as possible," she said. The man is expected to be charged with animal cruelty and may face other charges.

Pittsburgh police received several calls about the dead dog yesterday. The dog's former owner told police that the dog was a 4-year-old German shepherd mix named Buju.

The owner was moving to an apartment that does not allow pets so she took the dog to a shelter, Cmdr. Brackney said. When the woman found a man who was interested in adopting the dog, she went to the shelter, retrieved the dog and gave it to the man.

"It's an ironic twist that her attempts to save him" from euthanasia in the shelter led to the death of the dog.

Humane agents from the Animal Friends shelter are working with police.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.