Photo provided Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies released this photo of a dog collar and leash found on a dog that had been shot to death near Hartsville.
Despite a $1,000 reward being offered for tips, Bartholomew County investigators haven’t received any leads about a dog that was killed on the side of the road in Hartsville about a month ago.
Individuals from the Change 4 Bartholomew County animal advocacy group are offering the reward. Anyone with information about the case should contact the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department at 812-379-1650.
The Bartholomew County Humane Society said the reward is for information leading to the arrest of the individual or individuals who shot and killed “a young, male, black/white dog tied to a tree in Hartsville, IN on or about Feb. 23.” The dog was killed by the side of the road on County Road 1150E, according to investigators.
The dog was described as a “pit mix” without a microchip or any identification on his collar.
“The animal community won’t forget this poor boy,” shelter officials said. “He has been named Ezekiel and a memorial has been erected. Run free and be happy Ezekiel you deserved better.”
Bartholomew County Humane Society Shelter Director Kirsten VantWoud said that a memorial was created by Change 4 Bartholomew County to remind people that the dog “deserves justice.”
The shelter shared on social media that the reward for tips was originally $500 but has been increased to $1,000 thanks to “a generous donor.”
“Several private community members stepped up and offered $500 for further information leading to the arrest of the individual or individuals,” explained Elizabeth James, vice president of the Humane Society’s board. “Then, another private individual offered to match the $500 for a total of $1,000. All of these folks do belong to the Change for Bartholomew County Advocacy Group but are donating in their personal capacity as opposed to being from the group.”
The shelter, the sheriff’s office and the prosecutor had not received any information about the case, said VantWoud.
She noted that when the shelter posts about strays or animals who have been abandoned, they often get several replies from people trying to help, but this time there has just been “radio silence” on tips.
“Our administrators and our authorities are concerned, because there’s such a direct link between people who will abuse animals and the escalation to abusing humans,” she said. “And so certainly that’s at the forefront of our concern here, because we’re only assuming that this was done intentionally to harm this animal, and whoever did it may escalate to intentionally harming humans. And we’d like to intervene in that before someone else is hurt or another animal is hurt.”
