$2,500 Rewards Being Offered For Animal Cruelty Cases ***Contains Graphic Photos***

Gracie

Amber

GRENADA, Miss. (October 19, 2012) – In Defense of Animals (IDA), the international animal protection organization that operates Hope Animal Sanctuary in Grenada, Mississippi, has offered two separate $2,500 rewards for information leading to arrests and convictions in recent animal abuse cases. The first involves the dog Gracie, whose guardian neglected to ever adjust her collar, which over many years grew painfully into her neck, nearly severing her esophagus. The second is a horse named Amber who was found abandoned with severely overgrown hooves that ultimately lead to her death.

Gracie was found on October 5 running along Highway 82 just east of Lodi Road in Winona, Mississippi by former Hope Animal Sanctuary staffer Elizabeth Moorman. Had she not been found, she would have been killed by the embedded collar gradually tightening into her neck.

“This is the worst embedded collar I have ever seen,” said Doll Stanley, Director of IDA’s Hope Animal Sanctuary, where the near-death Gracie was brought. “This dog was probably weeks from being killed by infection from the injury this collar caused. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering she went through over the years while this collar slowly worked its way into her neck.”

Gracie is undergoing treatment for the embedded collar at Veterinary Associates in Grenada. She is expected to live, but has a long and expensive recovery ahead of her. After she heals, Gracie will be available for adoption through Hope Animal Sanctuary, which is accepting donations to offset the costs of Gracie’s care.

Amber was found in mid-August abandoned in Carroll County. Her hooves were so severely overgrown she could barely walk. She was also very thin from being unable to search for food.

Amber was treated at Hope Animal Sanctuary for nearly two months, but she never recovered from her injuries and recently had to be euthanized. “We want whoever did this to Amber to face justice in court,” said IDA’s Doll Stanley. “The cruelty to Amber should not go unpunished.”

In Defense of Animals urges anyone with information about either of these horrific cases of animal cruelty to contact IDA’s Animal Cruelty Hotline at 415-448-0074. To contribute to IDA’s Animal Cruelty Reward Fund, please call IDA at (415) 448-0048, ext. 218.