On Sunday, Feb. 19, a local animal rescuer spotted five lab mix puppies near the intersection of Monroe Creek Road and Frank Kennedy Road in Angie. The rescuer made the homeless puppies comfortable by giving them a blanket and some food. The plan was to return later that day, remove the puppies and place them in a temporary home and provide them with the care they needed. Unfortunately, the puppies never made it to their temporary or permanent homes. During the time the rescuer left the scene and came back several hours later, someone or several individuals had fatally shot the poor puppies in the head with a small caliber firearm.

The Humane Society of Louisiana and other individuals established a reward fund that stands at $1,250 and the Humane Society is asking any one with information to contact Detective Demmi Rice with the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office by calling 985-839-3434, ext. 2004 or by emailing her at drice@wpso.la.gov. Any one with information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for the killing of these puppies is eligible to receive this monetary reward.

“We hope that those with knowledge of this crime will come forward so that the individual(s) responsible will face justice. Having also worked with Detective Rice on many previous animal abuse complaints in Washington Parish, we feel that no one is more qualified to solve this crime than she is,” said Jeff Dorson, HSL executive director.

The suspects would likely be charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and those convicted face up to 10 years in jail and up to $25,000 in fines per count, although lower penalties are often handed down to first offenders.