Birmingham, AL (April 2, 2007) – During the month of April, which is nationally recognized as Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, United Animal Nations (UAN) is partnering with the Greater Birmingham Humane Society to offer cash rewards for information leading to an arrest in an existing or unknown case of animal abuse and animal fighting. This unique program promises a $100 reward per case for any information that leads to a misdemeanor or a felony arrest for animal cruelty or neglect. It is part of UAN’s Zig Zag Memorial Reward Fund .

The organizations hope that by offering the reward they will increase awareness throughout the community about these types of crimes and encourage more people to come forward if they witness an animal being abused or have information about a previous crime. “We need the community’s help to end the needless suffering of innocent animals in Birmingham,” said Jacque Meyer, Executive Director of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. “We are seeing the frequency of these crimes increase and the severity of some of them is unimaginable.”

Anyone who would like to report a case of animal abuse or neglect can contact the
Greater Birmingham Humane Society’s Cruelty Hotline at (205) 369-0392.

“Animal cruelty is a serious crime, and animal abusers are five times more likely to go on to commit violent crimes against people,” said Nicole Forsyth, president & CEO of California-based UAN. “For more than ten years UAN has worked to raise awareness of the seriousness of animal cruelty, and we hope this program will help make both animal and human residents of the Birmingham area safer.”

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society is still offering a $3,500 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of the individual who burned a pit bull, posthumously named Berkley by the organization, in Bessemer, Alabama. While almost two months have passed since the crime occurred, Meyer is still hopeful that someone will come forward with information that will bring justice to Berkley. “We have to keep trying to find the person who did this to Berkley,” she said. “ Not just for her but for any other pet that might suffer at the hands of this individual in the future.”

Additionally there is another $3,500 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case of another dog whose face had been violently severed with a sharp object. This dog, posthumously named Exeter, also suffered tremendously and his perpetrator is still walking free.

To further increase their chances of finding who committed these crimes quickly, the Greater Birmingham Humane Society is offering a $2,000 bonus award to whichever case is solved first. “For some people who witness these acts, or have information about them, the reward can mean the difference between coming forward or simply turning their backs,” said Meyer. “At this point we are willing to do just about anything to get these dangerous people off the streets and protect those that can’t ask for help.”

Anyone who has information about these cases can contact the Greater Birmingham Humane Society’s Cruelty Hotline at (205) 369-0392.

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS) is a nonprofit in Birmingham, Alabama  that has been serving abused and abandoned pets in Birmingham since 1883. The Greater Birmingham Humane Society was the first humane society in the southeast and one of the first twelve in the United States. Today the GBHS cares for over 8,500 animals a year and serves pets and people through their various programs which include, but are not limited to, pet adoptions, animal cruelty prevention and humane education.

MEDIA CONTACT: Alexis Raymond, (916) 429-2457.

Now celebrating its 20th year, United Animal Nations (UAN) is North America’s leading provider of emergency animal sheltering and disaster relief services and a key advocate for the critical needs of animals.

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