A Michigan animal lover reportedly killed himself trying to stop a man from beating a dog

A well-known Michigan animal lover was reportedly beaten to death while trying to stop a neighbor from hitting a dog on Christmas Eve, according to authorities and people who knew the victim.

Robert “Bobby” Cavanaugh, 60, was riding his bike through his community in the Detroit suburb of Madison Heights when he saw a resident abusing a dog, the men's neighbors told Fox.

It is said that Cavanaugh stopped, got off his bike and went in to try to protect the animal. But another man ended up hitting Cavanaugh with a pipe and killing him, the deceased's sister – Jane Thompson – and her neighbors told different media.

“Without a doubt, Bobby tried to stop that man,” Thompson wrote on a GoFundMe campaign page aimed at raising money for Cavanaugh's funeral expenses. “But instead, Bobby was beaten to death with a pipe.”

Police confirmed to Fox 2 Detroit that first responders found Cavanaugh unconscious and bleeding around 7:40 p.m. on December 24th after he was struck with an object, and he was pronounced dead after being brought to the hospital. But police are still investigating reports that Cavanaugh may have been killed trying to rescue the dog.

Cavanaugh's brutal death led to the arrest of Rodney Beasley, 68, on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, according to the local attorney's office, according to Detroit radio station WWJ. His bail has been set at $100,000, although his charges may be upgraded once the medical examiner completes their investigation into the cause and manner of Cavanaugh's death, the prosecutor's office told WWJ.

News website ClickOnDetroit.com quoted Cavanaugh's family members as saying they learned Beasley had a well-documented history of violence that landed him in prison for nearly 30 years. They asked why Beasley was out of custody during Cavanaugh's attack.

Police did not comment on the allegations publicly, telling Fox 2 Detroit that the suspect in Cavanaugh's death was known to law enforcement prior to his arrest.

Those who knew Cavanaugh told multiple news outlets that he deserved justice.

Rebecca Spencer told Detroit's ABC affiliate that it was cruel for Cavanaugh to die at the hands of someone who told her “you're not going to tell me how to raise my dog”.

“He loved animals,” Spencer said of Cavanaugh in a separate interview with Fox 2 Detroit. He would not allow anyone to kill an animal or harm it.

Citing Thompson himself, the New York Post reported that Cavanaugh had been a longtime pet owner — and confronted Beasley despite living with a disability on federal assistance.

“He did everything from the heart… and he always gave back whenever he could, especially [to] all animals,” Thompson wrote on a GoFundMe page honoring his brother, which has raised more than $19,000 as of Sunday.

Thompson added at the fundraiser that his family wanted to honor his brother “and give him the funeral he deserves like the hero he was”. He also asked those who visited this page to “continue to pray for peace.” [and] the humanity of our entire world”.