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After a dog was found tied up, shot and killed in Spencer County last month, a national animal rights group announced Nov. 5 it was offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the dog’s death.
Animal Wellness Action, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that promotes enacting and enforcing animal rights laws across the country, said in a released statement that the case is under investigation by the Spencer County Sheriff’s Office.
As of The Indiana Lawyer’s Friday deadline, no arrests have been made, the sheriff’s office said in a phone call.
According to local authorities, a Doberman pinscher was found tied to a pipeline marker and shot in a secluded area west of Grandview on Oct. 31.
The sheriff’s office reported that the dog was a young adult male in good health before the crime. The leash and collar, which were used to tie the animal, were recovered as evidence.
AWA President Wayne Pacelle told The Lawyer that the organization picked up on the case because it is constantly searching for information regarding animal abuse issues.
“We feel like these matters are often handled well in Indiana, and we just wanted to be sure that we’re providing support and keeping a laser focus on getting information that at least leads to the arrest, the prosecution of a perpetrator,” Pacelle said.
Pacelle said he is also particularly alarmed by animal cruelty cases in how they could share a link with violent crimes against people.
The AWA cited a study by the Chicago Police Department, where, from 2001 to 2004, of 332 people arrested for cruelty to animals or dog fighting, 70% had also been arrested for non-animal-related felonies; 86% had two or more crimes in their history; 65% had also been arrested for battery of all sorts.
“If somebody does something that is really outside of the norms of how animals are to be treated, it’s just a red flag warning that there’s something amiss psychologically with that individual, and if you don’t interdict that pattern of behavior, it’s going to result in other cases of cruelty and possibly violence against people,” Pacelle said.
The Spencer County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that it is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the owner of the dog or any individual who may have information related to this case.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the office at (812) 649-2286, or they can submit an anonymous tip through the Spencer County Sheriff’s App.
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