Reward Money For Info On Severed Dog Heads Climbs to $20,000
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — City lawmakers on Wednesday moved to raise the stakes in the search for whoever may be behind the gruesome beheading of two large dogs.
KNX 1070's Jon Baird reports a motion by City Council members Paul Koretz and Jan Perry received unanimous approval for a $20,000 reward to help apprehend those responsible.
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Patrol officers found the heads of a chocolate Labrador Retriever mix and a tan Shepherd mix inside a dumpster behind the CVS Pharmacy on South Vermont and West Slauson avenues.
Investigators from the LAPD Animal Cruelty Task Force determined that the dogs' heads had been clearly severed from their bodies with a sharp object. The bodies of the dogs were not found.
Perry said evidence shows the perpetrator — who authorities believe severed the dogs' heads at one location and then traveled to the dumpster to dispose of the heads — is likely a sociopath or otherwise mentally disturbed.
"A crime against an animal is often an indicator of a pattern of violence," Perry said.
While it remains unclear whether the beheadings are linked to dog fighting, LAPD Commander Andy Smith said the threat may not be limited to those with paws and claws.
"Many serial killers have been found to have in their past cruelty to animals just like the one we have here," said Smith.
City Attorney Carmen Trutanich said the perpetrator would likely be prosecuted as a felony by the District Attorney's Office.
The reward total includes $10,000 from the city and $2,500 each from the Humane Society, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Best Friends Animal Society. Koretz said he would also contribute $2,500 of his own money.
Anyone with information about the beheadings was urged to call the LAPD Animal Cruelty Task Force at (213) 486-0450.
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