The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for setting on fire a five-month-old, German shephard/sharpei-mix puppy at 5th and Morris streets in South Philadelphia on Thursday, October 4th. This female puppy, named Baby by Pennsylvania SPCA staff, was doused with water by a neighborhood resident who discovered her on fire. The witness then called the police, who found her on the highway and brought her to the SPCA in Philadelphia at approximately 2:30 a.m. on
October 4th.
Barbara Dyer, The HSUS Mid-Atlantic Regional Office's program coordinator, said, "The person that did this to this innocent puppy is a disturbed, dangerous individual. It requires a lot of detachment from the suffering of other living creatures to inflict such cruelty. And studies indicate that individuals who torture animals often also perpetrate violence on humans, and these acts of cruelty are almost never a one-time incident.
That means that this person poses a potential danger to other animals and people until they are caught." The HSUS Mid-Atlantic Regional Office serves the states of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, a first-time animal cruelty offense is a first-degree misdemeanor. A second offense is a third-degree felony punishable by a maximum fine of $15,000 and a maximum jail sentence of seven years.
Though no longer critical, Baby's condition is not yet stable, according to the SPCA. They are hopeful, however, that she will make a full recovery. If she continues to improve, she will be placed in a foster home for an extended period of time and then put up for adoption. They have already received 90 calls from people interested in adopting Baby.
The HSUS encourages people to keep their pets inside. Dogs and cats allowed to roam are vulnerable to individuals who want to abuse them, are at increased risk of injury and disease, and when unaltered contribute to the pet overpopulation problem.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Charles Spencer, SPCA director of investigations, at 215-426-6304 ext. 211.
Contact: Barbara Dyer: (973) 927-5611 or Rachel Querry: (301) 258-8255
The Humane Society of the United States
Mid-Atlantic Regional Office
Bartley Square
270 Route 206
Flanders, NJ 07836-9082
www.hsus.org |
