Reward Offered in Marin County, Calif., Animal Poisoning Case

August 16, 2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the poisoning deaths of three dogs in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The total reward in this case has now reached over $45,000.  

The Case:

Three dogs died from strychnine poisoning in early August. Within hours of returning home from a walk on the Alta Trail, located north of  Marin City, Nick and Stella (both Labradors) and Ajax (a Swiss Mountain Dog) suffered from seizures and elevated temperatures. 

Inspection of their stomach contents revealed what looked like strychnine-laced gopher bait. Apparently, the bait was intentionally left along the Alta Trail or in the Oakdale Avenue neighborhood of Mill Valley. Toxicology confirmed the dogs died of strychnine poisoning. 

Animal Cruelty: 

The connection between animal cruelty and human violence is well documented. The HSUS First Strike Campaign® raises public awareness and educates communities about this connection while providing a variety of resources to law enforcement agencies, social work professionals, educators, legislators and families. The HSUS offers rewards in animal cruelty cases across the country and works to strengthen laws against animal cruelty. Visit humanesociety.org/firststrike.

The Investigators:

The Marin Humane Society is investigating this case. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact Captain Cindy Machado at (415) 506-6209, cmachado@marinhumanesociety.org or visit www.marinhumanesociety.org.

The West Coast Regional Office (WCRO) of The Humane Society of the United States, located in Sacramento, Calif., is on the front lines of animal protection issues throughout five states: California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.