Pearl deliberately trapped in a cruel Conibear trap and left to slowly suffocate to death

Hebron, Ind. (December 27, 2012) – In Defense of Animals (IDA), an international animal protection organization, has offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whomever deliberately trapped a family’s dog in a cruel Conibear trap and left her to slowly suffocate to death.

“I cannot imagine a more tragic death for a loving and trusting dog like Pearl,” said Anja Heister, Director of IDA’s Wild and Free Campaign. “Knowing that she was lured to her death by someone she may have known and trusted, someone with the most cruel intention of causing her to suffer and die in a Conibear, borders on psychopathic behavior. Pearl’s killer is a threat to all of society, people included.” Heister added that studies have repeatedly shown, and the FBI and other law enforcement agencies agree, that a person who commits cruelty to animals very often moves on to commit acts of violence against people, especially when the cruelty to animals goes unpunished.

On Saturday, December 8, Pearl was chained outside her family’s home for a few hours when someone removed her from her yard and led her to the trap that took her life. Hebron Police Officer Casey Robinson told WBBM TV that the trap was likely baited to entice the dog, and that it snapped on her head.

Conibear traps are powerful body-gripping traps commonly used underwater for semi-aquatic species. They are designed to break an animal’s spine or administer a fatal blow to the skull. Unfortunately, they rarely kill animals instantly and instead leave them to suffer for hours, if not days. The trap is nearly impossible to remove and they often catch non-target animals like dogs and cats.

IDA urges anyone with information about this brutal killing to contact the Hebron Police Department at 219-996-2747. To contribute to the reward fund, please call IDA at (415) 448-0048, ext. 218.

Contact: Eric Phelps, eric@idausa.org, 503-754-0977