Can you imagine the horror? It’s a beautiful day and you’re mowing your yard, while your best pal is safely tethered ,watching you work and spending time with you. Suddenly, the unthinkable jolts your day. Ray Duncan of Desoto County, Mississippi never saw what was coming. He went in the house for a few minutes and when he got back outside, Rebel, his best bud, his kid, was missing along with the cable he was secured to for safety. In the next minutes, fear and panic would explode into heartache and rage.

While Ray was inside, someone stopped in front of his home, took gentle Rebel’s cable off its tie-out, dragged him to the road, and bound the cable to the bumper of a pickup truck and dragged him close to a half mile. A neighbor spotted the black truck with a red ladder in the bed; it’s the only clue we have to go on so far.

Rebel fought with all his might and his blessing was his thick neck nearly matches the circumference of his head, so he was finally able to pull free of his collar. If he hadn’t, he would be dead. When Ray found him he was in agony with skin and flesh ripped from his right and under sides. The right side of his mouth was laid open and he’d completely lost the pad of his right front paw struggling to resist the pull of the truck.

The Desoto County Sheriff’s department has been fully involved in the case. The Chief Investigator expressed how outraged people in the community were and what a sadistic crime this was. In Defense of Animals has offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person, or persons responsible for this heinous act.

This is the third such cruelty case in months in the northern region of Mississippi. In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign will keep the heat up on these crimes. We relentlessly call for justice for cruelty victims, and hold both criminals and lawmakers to account. These violent acts must be punished to protect others from similar crimes. A small handful of Mississippi judges have failed to impose maximum sentences for barbaric crimes against animals. Some Mississippi state legislators fail the people and animals of Mississippi by appeasing special interest groups like the Farm Bureau which has been able to block legislation to protect animal companions. . Though we reject the concept of “ownership” of family members like Rebel,  he was acquired for more than $500, meaning the criminal can be tried with stronger punishment.  When we find this despicable person, the charges will be grand larceny in addition to animal cruelty – which is pitifully currently considered a misdemeanor.

In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign Director Doll Stanley visited Rebel and his buddy, Rufus, a Bassett Hound who is helping aid Rebel recover.

Please share this widely so we can get justice for Rebel.