The Humane Society of the U.S. Offers Reward to Capture Suspect Who Allegedly Abandoned and Left Dog to Starve to Death in W.Va. Home

8/20/2002

From: Karen Allanach, 301-548-7778 or Rachel Querry, 301-258-8255, both of The Humane Society of the United States http://www.hsus.org

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- A horrendous case of animal cruelty in Kanawha, W.Va., has prompted The Humane Society of the United States (The HSUS) to offer a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who abandoned and starved to death a family dog. The case has also compelled West Virginia Senator John Mitchell to call for stronger laws on animal cruelty for the state.

A young adult chocolate Labrador retriever was found starved to near death last week after having been left inside a condominium for weeks without food or water in a Cross Lanes townhouse, according to news reports. The emaciated dog, Sun Bear, weighed less than a mere 25 lbs., a quarter of his normal weight, when he was found on Sunday, August 11. An ex-girlfriend of Hubert Wilmer, Sun Bear's owner, went into the otherwise vacant residence that day and found the dog, according to reports.

Sun Bear was rushed to a veterinarian, but efforts to save the young lab were futile. Attempts to revive Sun Bear and repair his body from the effects of starvation did not work. On Tuesday, August 13, Sun Bear died. Kanawha County Humane Officer Gene Fields and the St. Albans Police Department are searching for Wilmer. Police have issued a warrant for Wilmer's arrest.

"It is hard to imagine the slow, intense suffering of this poor dog who was left without food or water for weeks on end," said Ann Chynoweth, HSUS Counsel to Investigative Services. "Every day Sun Bear waited in vain for his owner to return and such abandonment can be as cruel and as criminal as directly inflicted animal abuse. We have an obligation to the animals in our homes and Mr. Wilmer violated that contract in the worst way," she said.

The Humane Society of the U.S. is offering this reward with the hope that someone will come forward with a tip on Wilmer's whereabouts or with any other information that will help law enforcement in this case. Under current West Virginia law, animal cruelty carries only a misdemeanor fine, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Sen. Mitchell is seeking legislation to raise the penalty for animal cruelty, according to news reports.

"The gross negligence in this case deserves a strong punishment," said Sandy Rowland, director of The HSUS Great Lakes Regional Office, which serves the states of West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. "We thank Senator Mitchell for drawing attention to the need for stronger animal cruelty laws in West Virginia. There needs to be a more appropriate consequence to such a heinous act. When states have strong animal cruelty laws and enforcement, that can go a long way to protect animals and citizens from violent individuals," Rowland said.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Gene Fields, Kanawha County humane officer at 304-342-1576. Information will be kept confidential.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than seven million members and constituents. The HSUS is dedicated to protecting all animals through legislation, education, investigation, litigation, advocacy and fieldwork. The HSUS has programs protecting wildlife, companion animals, farm animals and animals in research. The HSUS is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 10 regional offices. Visit The HSUS on the Web at http://www.hsus.org.