29-05-2025
PETA offers up to $5,000 for tips leading to dog killer
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for the gunning down of the dog found in Donaldson on May 25.
'This dog endured the agony of being shot over and over and the terror of being abandoned in the woods to bleed out, and whoever attacked him is still at large,' said PETA Senior Director of Media Relations Heather Carlson in a statement.
'Nothing can undo this dog's suffering, but at least the person who caused it can be brought to justice — and PETA is urging anyone with information to come forward immediately before they hurt someone else,' she said.
While on a walking trail in a secluded wooded area off Fountain Road Sunday, a family found a recently killed dog, described as a healthy adult black Labrador retriever mix around seven years old, authorities said.
The intact male dog, wearing a rusted chain-type collar, was found around 1:30 p.m., police said. It appeared the dog had been shot at least seven times, said Becky Worth, shelter manager for Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA, who went to the scene.
Bullet casings, which are believed to be from a .45 caliber weapon, were found at the scene. Other than the rusty collar he had no other identifying items, Worth said. He was not microchipped.
Worth said she and Shannon Shuttlesworth, vice president of the board of directors of Ruth Steinert, walked about 1/4 a mile down a path to find the dog after a family made the gruesome discovery.
The lab mix was found in the leaves, still bleeding from his wounds, Worth said.
'It looks like they shot him in the legs and went down his body,' she said of the multiple bullet wounds.
The dog's fur was clean, his nails trimmed and teeth in good condition.
Locally, multiple pledges totaling $1,000 in reward money for information leading to an arrest in the case have been posted on a concerned resident's Facebook page.
Worth said Thursday she was unaware of the reward from PETA.
'I think that's pretty amazing,' she said..
A trooper said Thursday that state police is aware of the reward offered by PETA, and the case is now under the jurisdiction of the crime unit.
Those with information about this dog or the injuries it sustained are urged to call the state police at 570-754-4600, or Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA at 570-345-3540.
