OAKLAND — The reward for information in the case of three puppies found badly abused over the weekend in an East Oakland trash pile has been doubled to $10,000, authorities said Thursday.
Initially, $5,000 in reward money had been offered by Pet Food Express and that amount has now been matched by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, officials said.
“At least two puppies in Oakland have suffered the agony of a broken jaw and the terror of being dumped in a pile of garbage,” PETA Senior Vice President of Communications Lisa Lange said.
“PETA urges anyone with information about these cases to come forward immediately so that whoever left these dogs to die can be held accountable and stopped from hurting anyone else.”
The female puppies, two of which were badly mutilated about the face and jaw, are still under the care of veterinarians. Officials are trying to determine exactly how they were injured.
Police said that although the injuries are consistent with something a human could have caused, it is still not conclusive a person was to blame.
Police officers have been canvassing the area of 89th Avenue and G Street where the puppies were found looking for witnesses and video surveillance but so far there have been no arrests.
The first two dogs, both German shepherd puppies, were found Saturday night by Rocket Dog Rescue, a local shelter, which was notified of their plight by a homeless person about 9 p.m. They have named them Freya and Frigg.
The third dog, a Husky puppy, was found at the site Monday.
Authorities are still unable to say if the cases are related.
One of the shepherds and the Husky both had severe injuries to their jaw and face area and the other had a missing paw that may have been cut off, officials said.
“It wasn’t until I walked in the door at Beacon Veterinary Specialists tonight with little Freya in my arms that I’d realized that, ever since Saturday night when the girls were found, I’ve been a huge bundle of nerves,” Rocket Dog’s Pali Boucher said in a Facebook post about taking one of the dogs to a Fremont veterinary clinic for surgery.
“Though there is a long road of healing ahead — today is a brighter day.”
The reward money is for information leading to the arrest of any suspects. Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3728 or the Oakland Animal Shelter at 510-535-5602.
Check back for updates.