Reward Offered In New Jersey Animal Cruelty Case

June 29, 2007

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is offering a $2500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of a groundhog found hanging from a tree in Sussex County, N.J.

The Case:
Residents of a home on Saddle Ridge Road in Sparta were alerted by their dogs’ barking to something unusual in an adjacent property. They discovered on June 9 the body of groundhog suspended from a tree branch about 12 feet off the ground. One end of a heavy gauge wire was wrapped around the animal’s neck; the opposite end was attached by a wire clothespin to a sturdy wooden stake that was driven into a higher branch.

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:
Anyone who may have information about this case is asked to contact the New Jersey SPCA – 800-582-5979. Callers may remain anonymous.

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization – backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at humanesociety.org.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of The HSUS, located in Flanders, New Jersey, serves the animals and people of five states: Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia—a culturally diverse area of the nation that's home to nearly 17 percent of HSUS members and constituents.