Dog found beaten to death in vacant lot

"People who abuse animals often move on to human victims"

By Caitilin McAdoo

June 17, 2007

A $9,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for beating a dog to death in Oakland last week.

According to the East Bay SPCA, the dog was found on Tuesday in a vacant lot at Bancroft Road and 74th Avenue. It had reportedly been beaten to death and had a shirt tied around its head, the SPCA reported.

San Rafael-based In Defense of Animals reported that the dog also had its legs bound with a rope.

Neither organization indicated what kind of dog it was or to whom it belonged.

Representatives from Oakland Animal Control could not be immediately reached for comment.

The East Bay SPCA, In Defense of Animals and Walnut Creek-based Voices for Pets are offering the reward money.

The dog's death is the second incident of animal cruelty to be reported in Oakland in recent weeks.

On May 22, 15 goats that were part of a herd grazing to control weeds and reduce fire danger were shot to death in the Oakland Hills.

The East Bay SPCA, In Defense of Animals, the East Bay Regional Parks District, Friends of Oakland Animal Services and Voices for Pets are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for killing the goats.

According to In Defense of Animals President Elliot Katz, FBI and U.S. Department of Justice studies have shown that people who abuse animals often go on to abuse children and spouses.

"People who abuse animals often move on to human victims. It is imperative that we get the perpetrator of this monstrous crime off the streets," Katz said in a news release.

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