SPCA of Texas Offers $10,000 Reward in the case of a dog skinned in Denton County
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
By: Jaklin Kaden

(Denton County, TX); June 9, 2009--The SPCA of Texas, through generous funding by the Murrell Foundation and Affiliated Multi-Family Services, is offering $10,000 as a reward to any individual who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator(s) who allegedly took and skinned a dog, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel named Bonny, resulting in the dog's death. The dog's body was found in a field near the dog's home in Cross Roads, TX.

Anyone with information should contact Sergeant Griggs with the Denton County Sheriff's Office at (940) 391-7329.

On the morning of June 2, Bonny was let out in the front yard, which is bordered with electrical fencing.  Later Bonny's owner, Brian Hunter, noticed that the dog was no longer in the yard. Several hours of searching led to the discovery of the dog's mutilated body in a nearby field.

"We will love you always and miss you so very much, Bonny.  We will ALWAYS remember you on your favorite spot on the couch." said Hunter. "I hope very much that this individual(s) is identified soon because they are obviously in need of help."

"A person that commits this type of torture should be accountable for this vicious act.  There is a well documented link between animal cruelty and human violence.  Assisting the Denton County Sheriff’s Office with bringing this person or persons to justice will help stop the cycle of abuse." said SPCA of Texas President James Bias 

The SPCA of Texas points out that animal cruelty is often an early-warning sign of violent tendencies that will be acted out against people. Childhood cruelty to animals has been linked to later antisocial and aggressive behavior in several retrospective studies.

The SPCA of Texas is committed to stopping this cycle through maintaining an active Rescue & Investigations team that responds to reports of abuse and neglect in eleven North Texas counties, through lobbying the Texas legislature to strengthen the animal cruelty law, by encouraging the community to get involved in their local and state government to advocate for animals and by encouraging individuals to report all suspected animal cruelty to their local law enforcement agency and the SPCA of Texas. To report suspected cruelty or abuse to the SPCA of Texas, call 214-742-SPCA (7722) or visit www.spca.org/abuse.

The SPCA of Texas will do everything in its power to assist law enforcement as they work with prosecutors to take this specific case as far as possible under state law and bring this individual(s) to justice.

The SPCA of Texas is dedicated to providing every animal exceptional care and a loving home. The SPCA of Texas is the leading animal welfare agency in North Texas with two shelters and two spay/neuter clinics located in Dallas and McKinney, and serves as an active resource center providing an array of programs and services that bring people and animals together to enrich each others' lives. A comprehensive animal welfare agency, the SPCA of Texas is not affiliated with any other entity and does not receive general operating funds from the City of Dallas, State of Texas, federal government, or any other humane organization.

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SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS OF TEXAS
(214) 742-SPCA * FAX (214) 461-1801

SPCA of Texas Headquarters
2400 Lone Star Drive, Dallas, TX 75212

Dealey Animal Care Center
362 S. Industrial Blvd., Dallas, TX  75207

Martin Spay/Neuter and Animal Wellness Clinic at Village Fair
4830 Village Fair Drive, Dallas, TX 75224

Perry Animal Care Center & Spay/Neuter and Animal Wellness Clinic
8411 FM 720, McKinney, TX 75070

Additional Adoption Center at:
PetSmart in Denton: 1441 S. Loop 228, Denton, TX 76205