The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and a local animal activist are separately offering up a total of $6,000 in reward money to anyone that can help authorities catch the person who fatally shot a dog at the Samoa Dunes on Monday.

In a press release sent to the Outpost this morning, PETA pledged $5,000 for information that will bring the dog’s killer to justice.

“This dog must have been terrified when she was left to suffer in agony from gunshot wounds, abandoned and alone on the dunes,” PETA Vice President Colleen O’Brien is quoted as saying in the press release. “PETA joins the [Humboldt County sheriff’s Office] in urging anyone who recognizes this dog to come forward immediately, before anyone else gets hurt.” 

The Humboldt County Animal Care and Control shelter in McKinleyville reports that local animal advocate Kent Sawatzky is also offering $1,000 for the same cause.

The dog was first reported injured on Monday at 10:06 a.m. on Bunker Road at the Samoa Dunes Recreation Area and was later euthanized due to the severity of its bullet wounds.

The dog was not chipped or wearing a collar and its owner(s) is/are still unknown at this time.

Read more from PETA:

Samoa, Calif. — PETA is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and cruelty-to-animals conviction of the person(s) who shot a dog three times and abandoned her in the Samoa Dunes Recreation Area.

The dog, who weighed 70 pounds and is believed to have been a mastiff mix, was reportedly found by a good Samaritan just after 10 a.m. on August 24. Animal control officers rushed her to a veterinarian for care—but she had to be euthanized because of the severity of her injuries. She didn’t have a microchip or a collar, and no one has reported missing a dog matching her description.

“This dog must have been terrified when she was left to suffer in agony from gunshot wounds, abandoned and alone on the dunes,” says PETA Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “PETA joins the sheriff’s office in urging anyone who recognizes this dog to come forward immediately, before anyone else gets hurt.” 

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Crime Tip Hotline at 707-268-2539.

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Two animal rights advocates are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) who shot and abandoned a dog in the Samoa Dunes Recreation Area.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) announced today that the organization has pledged a reward of up to $5,000 after learning about the discovery of the injured dog. Additionally, following the release of information to the public regarding this case, a local animal advocate and regular donor to the Humboldt County Animal Shelter has also pledged an additional $1,000 leading to a conviction of suspects and has agreed to cover the dog’s veterinary costs.

The Humboldt County Sheriffs Office would like to extend our great appreciation for these generous reward offers and encourages anyone with information about this case to contact our agency at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

###

PREVIOUSLY: Dog Found Shot Several Times at Samoa Dunes; Sheriff’s Office Seeking Owner After Euthanizing Animal