Tips needed to seek justice for cruelly burned puppy in a North Sacramento neighborhood
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Sacramento, CA (January 4, 2013) – RedRover, a nonprofit animal protection organization based in Sacramento, California, is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever burned a puppy and left her for dead near Calvados Ave. and Oakmont St., near Del Paso Blvd. and Arden Way in North Sacramento. The reward has since grown to $8,000 thanks to contributions from The Humane Society of the United States and Scooter’s Pals.
Sacramento City Animal Care received a report of an injured dog on Wednesday, January 2. They found a four-month-old puppy with severe burns around her entire body, barely alive. It appeared that the dog had been confined in a red plastic container and doused with accelerant before being set aflame, most likely on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. In addition to severe burns all over her body, the puppy had bits of red plastic melted to her feet and hindquarters. A veterinarian later determined that the puppy had to be euthanized due to the extent of her injuries and suffering.
“I thought I’d seen it all, but this level of deliberate cruelty tops anything I’ve seen before,” said Sacramento City Animal Care manager Gina Knepp. “Someone out there knows what happened. This dog deserves justice and we need the community’s help to find the dangerous person who did this.”
“We hope our reward will encourage someone who knows more about this horrifying 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 local residents have a stake in seeing that whoever committed this sick and disturbing act is punished to the full extent of the law.”
Anyone with information in this case is encouraged to call Officer Dan Torres at 916.808.5855.
Please download and share the Reward Flier.
A study conducted by the Massachusetts SPCA and Northeastern University showed that people who abuse animals are five times more likely 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.
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 increase their level of empathy for people and pets through stories and discussion. The next online training for teachers and other educators begins January 12. Learn more about RedRover and its programs at www.redrover.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Leili Khalessi 916.429.2457
Updates
- The size of the reward has grown to $8,000. Adding to RedRover’s initial reward of $2,500, The Humane Society of the United States contributed $5,000, and Scooter’s Pals added $500.
- CBS Sacramento (video and photos – graphic warning): Puppy set on fire in Sacramento; $8,000 reward offered for information
- News 10: Puppy discovered burned alive in Del Paso Heights
CBS 13 video