The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of those responsible for abandoning four small dogs earlier this month in Osage Beach.
The $2,500 reward is in addition to a $250 reward offered by Dogwood Animal Shelter, raising the total reward offered in this case to $2,750.
According to officials at the animal shelter, four severely neglected dogs locked in two crates were dropped off between 5:30 p.m. Nov. 9 and 5:30 a.m. Nov. 10 at the gate of the shelter in Osage Beach.
The dogs, which range in age from 1-3 years old, were locked in a cat carrier and a medium dog carrier. All were nearly hairless and were suffering from serious infections on their skin and paws.
The temperature outside the shelter was about 25 degrees that night.
Officials believe the dogs were raised at a puppy mill.
Ronnie Jacobsen, director of Dogwood Animal Shelter, said, "We are busy caring for the dogs now, tending to their skin infections and sores on the bottoms of their feet, and working to get them socialized. Hopefully, they will make a full recovery, and we will be able to find loving homes for these sweet little dogs."
The Camden County Sheriff's Department is investigating. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the sheriff's department's animal control office at 573-836-2244 or the Dogwood Animal Shelter at 573-348-4411.