Humane Society of the United States Offers Reward in Mentor, Ohio Animal Cruelty Case

7/11/2003

From: Linda Reider, 419-352-5141, or Rachel Querry, 301-258-8255, both of the Humane Society of the United States

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio, July 11 -- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation's largest animal protection organization, is offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the killing of 22 Canada geese found at a private business in Mentor, Ohio, on the morning of July 9. Two more badly injured geese have also been found at the same site.

The geese made their home on the grounds of the Mill-Rose Company, where bird-loving employees enjoyed watching the majestic animals. The slaughtered animals were discovered by an employee in the parking lot, their bodies scattered and apparently intentionally run over repeatedly by a vehicle, judging from the tire tracks and skid marks. Canada geese lose their flight feathers during the summer and raise their young, making them especially vulnerable.

"While the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is investigating the case under Ohio poaching prevention law, its malicious nature and the large number of animals killed prompted us to offer a significantly larger reward than that agency in the hopes of flushing out the person or persons responsible," explains Linda Reider, regional coordinator for the Great Lakes Regional Office. "Anyone capable of so viciously attacking defenseless animals poses a potential danger to other animals and people in the community," she asserted.

In Ohio, the penalty for animal cruelty toward geese is a second-degree misdemeanor charge and fines of up to $750 and up to 90 days in jail for each offense. Animal cruelty charges may be brought in addition to charges of killing a goose out of hunting season.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to please contact either the Mentor Police Department at 440-974-5760 or the HSUS Great Lakes Office at 419-352-5141.

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 First Strike Campaign(r) raises public awareness and educates communities about the connection between animal abuse and violence towards humans while providing a variety of resources to law enforcement agencies, social work professionals, educators, legislators and families. The HSUS is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 10 regional offices. The HSUS Great Lakes Regional Office serves Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and West Virginia. For more information on The HSUS First Strike Campaign, visit The HSUS on the Web at http://www.hsus.org/firststrike.