(Thursday, October 15, 2020) – Columbus Humane is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for two separate, violent acts of animal cruelty.
The first incident occurred on October 11, 2020, between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., a dog crate was set on fire with a small puppy inside on the East Side of Columbus at Walnut Hill Park.
Columbus Firefighters responded to the fire just after noon and found a small area of melted plastic on fire underneath a tree in the park. As firefighters were extinguishing the fire, they observed a small puppy running in the area. The puppy had black plastic melted on her back with sustained injuries and it was concluded that the puppy had been in the crate that was on fire.
The puppy was sent to a local veterinary hospital where she was treated for burn injuries. The puppy is recovering in her new home and is doing well despite her injuries.
Columbus Humane agents are working with Columbus Fire and Explosives Unit Investigators to identify the culprit. Columbus Humane is asking for the public’s assistance to identify the puppy, and/or the puppy’s former owner.
The second incident was on Sunday, October 11, 2020 and involved a man seen dumping deceased animals in an alley in the Franklin Township area. The animals reportedly had been drowned before being discarded. Columbus Humane agents were able to recover the remains of a cat. An autopsy was performed to gather additional evidence for the case.
“These are serious acts of animal cruelty and should not be taken lightly,” said CEO, Rachel D.K Finney. “It is extremely important for those with any information to come forward, as there is a high likelihood that other animals and people are at risk if the perpetrators are not identified and held accountable.”
Please contact Columbus Humane’s Cruelty Investigations Department at 614-777-7387 ext. 250 if you have information regarding these two separate acts of animal cruelty. Contact us if you recognize the puppy from the fire, can identify the puppy’s former owner or have information regarding the fire in the park. We are also seeking any information on the man seen dumping deceased animals in an alley in Franklin Township area.
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About Columbus Humane
Columbus Humane, founded in 1883, provides programs and services for animals and people in Central Ohio. It is our mission to fight animal cruelty, help animals in need and advocate for their well-being. We are a non-profit law enforcement agency investigating reports of animal cruelty abuse and neglect in Franklin County. Columbus Humane investigates more than 6,000 reports of animal cruelty and neglect in Franklin County annually. For more information about Columbus Humane, please visit www.columbushumane.org.
