The HSUS Offers Reward In Bakersfield, Calif. Animal Cruelty Case

May 29, 2008

The Humane Society of the United States is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to identification, arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for setting a family dog on fire.

The Case:

News reports give the following account: On May 22, someone doused a border collie-chow dog named Murphy with an accelerant, set him on fire and sent him running home. When Murphy arrived in his yard, his head and torso were in flames. His owners quickly doused him with water and rushed him to an emergency veterinarian, but he had to be euthanized four days later. 

“This is one of the worst cases of animal cruelty we have heard about in a very long time. Setting a defenseless animal on fire causes horrendous suffering and anyone capable of such a vicious act poses a potential danger to other animals and people,” said Curt Ransom, of The HSUS’s West Coast regional office. “California law recognizes this connection and this case should be investigated as an act of felonious cruelty.”

The Investigators:

The Bakersfield Police Department and Animal Control are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call The Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111 or Animal Control at 661-326-3436. 

Anyone interested in contributing to a local reward fund in this case should contact Susan Madigan at 661-900-3036, or accommission5@gmail.com.

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.

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