Reward Offered In Springdale Animal Shelter Kitten Killings

September 12, 2008

The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society of the Ozarks are offering a reward up to $2,500 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for breaking into the Springdale Animal Services shelter and brutally killing 10 kittens.

The Case:

News reports give the following account: Ten kittens housed at Springdale Animal Services were found dead Thursday after the shelter’s staff reported an overnight break-in at the 321 Randall Wobbe Road facility. Someone had climbed through the window to the shelter’s cat room and released all of the kittens from their cages. Four kittens were found dead inside the shelter. Six more kittens were later found dead at a parking lot at 675 E. Joyce Blvd. in Fayetteville. All of the dead kittens were found with crushed skulls. Five of the dead kittens were only four weeks old and were taken from their nursing mother by the perpetrator(s). Some cats and kittens removed from their cages were placed in cages with dogs. None of those cats were harmed.  

Animal Cruelty:

Getting the serious attention of law enforcement, prosecutors and the community in cases involving allegations of cruelty to animals is an essential step in protecting the community. The connection between animal cruelty and human violence is well documented. Studies show a correlation between animal cruelty and all manner of other crimes, from narcotics and firearms violations to battery and sexual assault. 

“These horrific acts are intolerable to all decent Arkansans,” said Eva Madison, Humane Society of the Ozarks board member. “Anyone capable of this level of depravity deserves to go to jail and obviously needs a psychological evaluation and possibly treatment.”  

“Those who abuse animals can be dangerous to people,” said Dale Bartlett, The HSUS’s deputy manager for animal cruelty issues. “Americans have no tolerance for violence against the creatures who share our world."

State Sen. Sue Madison has championed efforts to make aggravated cruelty to cats, dogs and horses a felony offense in Arkansas. In Arkansas' 2007 legislative session, she introduced a bill that would make torture, depraved killings and extreme cases of neglect a felony. The bill passed the senate, but was killed by the House Agriculture Committee. Madison has announced her intentions to reintroduce similar legislation in the 2009 session.

The Investigators:

The Springdale Police Department is investigating. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the department’s criminal investigation division at 479-750-8139. 

Resources:

The HSUS Animal Cruelty Campaign raises public awareness and educates communities about the connection between animal cruelty and human violence 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/cruelty.

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 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.