Information sought about person who abandoned a young, severely injured “bait dog” in Burleson County, Texas
SACRAMENTO, CA (December 11, 2006) – United Animal Nations (UAN) today offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and charging of those involved in mutilating and abandoning a puppy in front of a dump in Tunis, Texas. The young pit bull puppy may have been used as a dogfighting “bait dog” and had to be euthanized soon after being rescued due to the severity of his condition.
According to the local animal rescuer who found the dog she later named Survivor in a ditch along FM 166, he had old and fresh injuries, including puncture marks all over his body, a broken leg, and lacerations where his legs may have been tied together with barbed wire. His kidneys and liver were also failing. The dog did not show aggression, even in his painful condition, leading the rescuer to suspect that he was used as “bait” to train fighting dogs since he was not aggressive enough to fight. The rescuer said most of his teeth had apparently been kicked out, probably so he could not defend himself by biting the dogs who were attacking him during their training. All that remained was a single tooth dangling from his mouth.
“By issuing this reward, we hope to call attention to the cruel and needless practice of illegal dogfighting and the suffering these dogs endure,” said UAN President and CEO
Anyone with information in this case should call the
Dogfighting is a contest in which two dogs are placed in a pit to fight each other for the spectators’ gambling and entertainment. The fight ends when one of the dogs is no longer willing or able to continue. The dogs often die of blood loss, shock, dehydration, exhaustion or infection hours or even days after the fight. Owners sometimes train their dogs to fight with non-aggressive “bait dogs” or other animals such as cats and rabbits. Dogfighting is illegal in all 50 states; participating in a dogfight is punishable as a felony in
UAN is offering this reward through its Zig Zag Memorial Reward Fund , designed to encourage witnesses to step forward with information about animal cruelty crimes and to advocate the need for harsher punishments in such cases. Research now shows that people who abuse animals are more likely to be violent toward humans. In addition to the reward, UAN contributed $600 to Mr. K’s Halfway House for Hounds and Kitties to help them recover their expenses from providing veterinary care for the dog.
The Zig Zag Memorial Reward is named for a
Now celebrating its 20th year, United Animal Nations (UAN) is
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