MI: Dog Cruelty Reward Doubled

Posted: 6:26 PM Jul 27, 2012
Dog Cruelty Reward Doubled
Ingham County Animal Control has more than doubled the reward for information leading to an arrest for the July 17 dog fight.
Reporter: Brian Johnson




Ingham County Animal Control Friday more than doubled the reward for information leading to an arrest for the July 17 dog fight. The reward originally was $500. Friday the shelter announced the reward is now set at $1,100. Two donors gave the shelter the reward money in hopes to find out who is responsible for hurting the dog.

The dogs name is "beast," but Ingham County Animal Control Deputy Director, Anne Burns says the people who did this to the dog are the true beasts.

"It's just despicable what they did. I mean, it's unforgiving and we're going to be relentless at finding these beasts, you know they call that dog the beast. He's not a beast. He's a fantastic loving dog," said Burns. "When he came in here, you know, it literally looked like his heart was broken. I mean he has the scares and the injuries but it was his spirit was way way down. We thought he had given up, but within the last couple days he's been on heavy duty antibiotics and his spirit just keeps lifting higher and higher and higher. He's a trooper."

Animal Control says the dog was tied up and then attacked by other dogs behind the M9 Party Store on MLK boulevard in Lansing.

"Our officers were dispatched on the 17, Tuesday the 17, right around 12:30 in the morning on a complaint of possible dog fighting going on behind the M9 party store," said Officer Robert Merritt, of the Lansing Police Department. "When the officers arrived they not only met with witnesses but they met with the owners of a house that was behind there also, as well as the dog that was in distress."

To encourage people to call in with tips, a deputy posted more than 100 flyers in the surrounding neighborhood behind the convenience store but now they are gone. The only flyer we found was inside the convenience store, but our cameras were not welcome inside.

"Those are great dogs and they shouldn't be exploited like that," said Tony McCathery, a Lansing Resident who was at the store Friday. "Anybody who's fighting there dogs they should go down. No exceptions."

"It's not a sport," said Burns. "Football is a sport, hockey is a sport. Dog fighting is not a sport it's just bonified cruelty."

Deputies say several men are responsible for hurting the dog. They are following several leads, but hope the reward money will encourage people to come forward with information.

"I have a feeling that there's going to be a lot of people out there that want to adopt [beast]. He's a great dog," said Burns. "I don't see any problem adopting him out."

If you have any information about the dog fight give the Ingham County Animal Shelter a call. You can stay anonymous. The caller giving who gives a tip that leads to an arrest will receive $1,100. The Ingham County Animal Control can be reached at 517-676-8370.

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