$2,500 Reward Offered to Catch Mississippi Dog Dragger
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IMAGES: http://bit.ly/RebelPics
Contact: Doll Stanley, doll@idausa.org, (662) 809-4483
$2,500 Reward Offered to Catch Mississippi Dog Dragger
Third Dog Dragging Highlights Urgent Need for Stricter Animal Protection Laws
Desoto County, MS (June 7, 2016) – In Defense of Animals, the international animal protection organization that operates Hope Animal Sanctuary in Grenada, Mississippi and the Mississippi based Justice for Animals Campaign has announced a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who sadistically nabbed and dragged a Desoto County dog. It is the third dog dragging in Northern Mississippi in recent months.
On Saturday, May 21, 2016, Rebel was taken from his yard on the intersection of Lee Road and Byhalia Road, attached to the back of a vehicle described as a black truck with a red ladder, and dragged by the neck from a cable tether. Rebel fought the road and the cable for half a mile, and finally wrenched his head free of his collar. He was found badly injured on Lee Road.
Rebel suffered deep abrasions to his underside, side, and legs, his jaw was ripped open, and lost the pad to his right front foot resisting the road. His condition is described as extremely painful and it will be weeks before he is fully healed.
“Rebel is part of our family. He sleeps between me and the wife in the bed every night. I can’t think of a reason anyone would want to hurt him. Watching my wife, Tessa cry was almost as bad as finding Rebel fighting for his life. I just want to find out who did this,” said Rebel’s guardian, Ray Duncan.
Desoto County Sheriff’s department Chief Deputy Hutchins described Desoto County residents’ outrage at this cruel act, and his determination to catch the criminal. “We’ve run out of tips and appreciate In Defense of Animals’ reward offer. We want to apprehend whoever did this to Rebel.”
“This is the third dog dragging incident in Northern Mississippi in recent months” said In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign Director Doll Stanley. “The shocking number of violent cruelty crimes shows that legislators and judges must take urgent action. People all over Mississippi are demanding justice for animal victims like Rebel. We urge anyone with information to come forward and put this violent and dangerous criminal in jail.”
Whoever removed Rebel from his yard to drag him on the road could face charges for animal cruelty, with a fine of up to $2,500 and six months incarceration, and also larceny or grand larceny for the dog nabbing, with fines of up to $10,000 and a prison sentence up to 10 years.
Investigators believe this may have been a personal attack on Rebel’s guardian, Ray Duncan. They are not ruling out any possibilities at this time.
Anyone with information related to this crime may contact In Defense of Animals anonymously at (415) 448-0048 or contact Chief Investigator Hutchins of the Desoto County Sheriff’s Office (662) 469-8027.
For more information, please visit www.idausa.org
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MSSS 97-41-16 (2)(a), a misdemeanor 1st offense aggravated cruelty to a dog or cat would be the statute applied for cruelty and for taking Rebel the charge would be MSSS 97-17-61, Larceny, or MSSS 97-17-41, Grand Larceny if the “value” of the dog is $500 or greater. The animal cruelty statute carries a maximum fine of $2,500 and up to six months incarceration with restitution provisions. The crime of larceny carries a maximum fine of $1,000 and up to a year in the county jail, while grand larceny carries a maximum fine of $10,000 and a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign is actively working with officials in communities, to building a groundswell of support for establishing and amending city and county ordinances as part of its campaign to show state lawmakers that Mississippians will not tolerate animal cruelty.
In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization located in San Rafael, Calif. dedicated to protecting animals’ rights, welfare, and habitat through education, outreach, and our hands-on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi.
IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS • 3010 KERNER BLVD. • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • 415-448-0048