Reward offered for help finding who left 3 puppies for dead in Oakland trash heap
OAKLAND, Calif. - Two German shepherds and a husky, all puppies, were left for dead in a trash pile in East Oakland over the weekend. One German Shepherd puppy may not survive.
A $5,000 reward is being offered by Oakland-based Pet Food Express for information that leads to the arrest of whoever is responsible for the abuse.
Pali Boucher, a 29-year veteran of Rocket Dog Rescue, ended up getting a call about them this weekend and took them both in her care. The German Shepherd puppies were found around 12:30 a.m. Sunday. The husky was found around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, in a trash heap at 89th Avenue and G Street.
One puppy, named “Freyda,” was found severely malnourished and suffering from a broken jaw. The vet told Boucher that she might not make it.
Her sister, Frigg, is expected to recover after suffering a severe cut to her leg.
"We are offering the reward to encourage someone to come forward who has information about who is harming these puppies so we can stop it from happening again," Pet Food Express owner Michael Levy said in a statement. "We are all animal lovers at Pet Food Express and want to protect them as
best we can."
“I don't know if this was active intentional abuse or just a horribly neglectful situation, I don't know," Boucher said.
Officials with the company said they were considering offering a reward when the two German Shepherds were found, but when the injured Husky was found, it became clearer that animal abuse is probably occurring.
The puppies are receiving care from Oakland Animal Services, a veterinarian and an organization that Oakland Animal Services partners with.
Oakland Animal Services is working with Oakland police to investigate what has happened to the puppies, which suffered serious injuries, Rebecca Katz, executive director of Oakland Animal Services, said.
Anyone who can provide a tip in the case is asked to call Oakland Animal Services at (510) 535-5602. Anyone interested in helping can click here.