Authorities were shocked when, earlier this month, a young Pug mix named Hope was found in Parker County, Texas, her mouth taped shut with electrical tape. It was a heinous case of animal abuse that shocked even the most seasoned animal control officers and welfare advocates in Texas and across the country.
Hope survived, but the same can’t be said for the dog at the center of a second incident of animal torture in a nearby county.
Sadly, the female Pit Bull Terrier mix found Friday afternoon was already dead when she was found by officials. The Pit Bull was discovered deceased in rural Kaufman County, Texas, her mouth bound with electrical tape.
According to the Star-Telegram, the dog’s body has been transferred to the SPCA of Texas’ Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center in Dallas, where a necropsy will be performed to determine what caused the dog’s death, though exposure to the oppressive North Texas heat is believed to have played a role.
“Dogs pant to keep cool,” SPCA of Texas representative Maura Davies told the Star-Telegram Sunday. “If they can’t do that, it’s certain they would be in critical condition very quickly.”
The SPCA of Texas is offering a $5,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the dog’s death.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department at 972-932-4337.
“There is a well-documented link between animal cruelty and human violence,” SPCA of Texas President James Bias said in a press release. “Helping the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department bring the person or people who did this to justice will help stop the cycle of abuse.”
Sources: Star-Telegram.com, SPCA.org
