Cash Reward Offered In Animal Cruelty Case

DEARBORN (WWJ) - Dearborn Heights Police are investigating a case of animal cruelty.

Officials say a dog that had a brick tied to his leg was pulled from the Rouge River, near Warren and Outer Drive, this week. The Dearborn Animal Shelter is caring for the dog, nicknamed "River," and is said to be doing well.

"Of course, initially, he was a little frightened and initially wasn't responding to staff very well because I think he was very scared. But he has since calmed down and he has been looked after and he is a really nice dog," says shelter spokesperson Sandy Boulton.

Boulton says River looks like a Lab Retriever-Hound mix with reddish fur and weighs about 55 pounds.

"I can't imagine why somebody did this to him. And it's just disheartening that people unfortunately commit acts of cruelty against an animal that's pretty darn defenseless," says Boulton.

The shelter is offering a $1000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or people responsible for the crime.