Roswell police say they are investigating an animal abuse case, but they cannot find the dog or the dog owner.

The director of a Roswell rescue group, who said she got a call about the case, was floored by an apparent disconnect between police and Fulton County Animal Services when it came to stopping the abuse and rescuing the dog.

"The dog has been terribly abused on more than one occasion," said the woman who asked to conceal her identity.

Records the animal group obtained using a private investigator show police called to the apartment nearly a dozen times on domestic and animal calls.

The woman said she fears shining the light on allegations that a family had been abusing the pit bull at a unit inside the Martins Landing neighborhood off Holcomb Bridge Road.

"There are reports the dog was being beaten with a metal baseball bat, reports the dog was being kicked and hit repeatedly," she said.

The woman said neighbors called both Fulton County Animal Services and Roswell police about what they were witnessing out in the open.

But she said they never got any results.

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"I believe police departments need to communicate better with animal services for sure,” she said.

Police blamed the disconnect between the county and their office is because the original animal control investigator on
the case is no longer working for animal control.

Police told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik they are actively looking for the suspects. Their identities are not being released because they have not been charged.

"The person involved is a juvenile, and apparently animal control doesn't charge juveniles, so we will handle the part. If there are charges to file for cruelty to animals, we'll make the charge,”

The rescue group leader said she's hopeful that police will find the abuser and hopes the dog is still alive.

Police said the family being accused of abuse has moved from the Roswell apartment, but they are actively looking for them.