Tips from the public needed to find whomever injured a small dog using a lit explosive
May 25 UPDATE: The dog’s owner has been located. The dog’s name is Dexter and he is expected to be released from the veterinary clinic in a few days and will go home to be with his family.
View the interview below with Dexter’s owner. “If you would do this to a dog, imagine what you would do to a human being or to a child.”
 
Rocket is expected to make a full recovery after he survived a horrific animal cruelty incident in which someone strapped explosives to his back and lit them on fire.
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Sacramento, CA (May 24, 2012) – RedRover, a national nonprofit animal protection organization based on Sacramento, California, is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever affixed explosives to a small spaniel mix dog and then lit them on Wednesday morning in Stockton, California.
Officers were called to Townehome Drive and Bianchi Road following reports that explosives detonated around 11:15 a.m. Police discovered the injured dog and an animal control officer transported him to a local veterinary clinic. The dog, named Rocket, was burned when the explosive was lit on fire and his skin separated from his muscle, but he is expected to survive and will be in need of a new home once he recovers.
“We hope our reward will encourage someone who knows more about this senseless act to come forward with information that could lead to an arrest,” said RedRover President and CEO Nicole Forsyth. “Violence toward animals is often a precursor to violence toward people, so Stockton residents have a stake in seeing that whoever committed this sick and cruel act is punished to the full extent of the law.”
Anyone with information in this case is encouraged to call Â
the Stockton Police Dept at 209.937.8377
 or contact Crime Stoppers at 209.946.0600. Callers can remain anonymous.
The public also can text any information pertaining to this investigation to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword TIPSPD.Â
Download and share the reward flier (PDF).
A study conducted by the Massachusetts SPCA and Northeastern University showed that people who abuse animals are five times more likely to commit violence against people, four times more likely to commit property crimes and three times more likely to be involved in drunken or disorderly offenses.
RedRover pledges rewards around the country to encourage witnesses to step forward with information about animal cruelty crimes and to highlight the need for harsher punishments in such cases. However, RedRover has only paid the reward twice in 18 years, highlighting the need for law enforcement, prosecutors and citizens to take animal cruelty crimes more seriously.
Founded in 1987, RedRover focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the bond between people and animals through a variety of programs, including emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education. The RedRover Readers program aims to prevent animal cruelty before it happens through its unique community-based literacy approach, which helps children develop empathy and critical thinking skills through stories and discussion. Learn more at www.redrover.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Leili Khalessi 916.429.2457 ext. 314
 Other Coverage
- News10: Owner vows to find out who hurt her dog (video)
- Recordnet.com: Police checking on woman claiming to be Rocket’s owner
- Fox40: Supposed Owner of Dog Strapped with M-80 Comes Forward (video, interview with woman claiming to be dog’s owner)
- Central Stockton News: $2,500 Reward to find People who Burned Dog with Explosives
- News10: Blast tears 10-inch gash in dog’s neck (video)
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