SPCA workers are investigating after the ears of this eight
week old puppy were cut off. Credit: NZPA / Sunlive.
Public outrage has led to a $1000 reward being offered
for the conviction prosecution of the sadist who cut off the
ears of an eight-week-old puppy.
Tauranga Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(SPCA) inspector Jason Blair today said donations had been
coming in from all around the country, bumping up the reward
money from $200 to $1000 for information which leading to a
successful prosecution.
"They're not businesses or anything, they're just people that
like dogs who have been disgusted by the media articles and
contacted us."
Mr Blair said more people had come forward with information
since NZPA spoke with him yesterday, but he still did not
have enough concrete evidence to charge the suspects.
"To be able to meet the standard of proof required for taking
it to court I can't just I think I know who did it -- I need
to be able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that somebody's
done it..."
The puppy, who has been nicknamed Trooper, was recovering
remarkably well considering what he had been through and was
living in foster care with a family.
Online news stories have been attracting hundreds of comments
from outraged animal lovers from across the country.
The offender or offenders could face up to five years
imprisonment or a $100,000 fine if convicted.
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