3 dogs dead, 12 missing after break-in at Riverside County animal shelter
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Three dogs were found dead and another 12 were missing Sunday after someone broke into a Riverside County animal shelter and clipped the locks on 22 kennels, officials said.
When an employee arrived at the Western Riverside County Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley about 6:30 a.m., he spotted dozens of dogs loose on the property, with 22 kennel runs broken open, said John Welsh, a spokesman for the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. Each kennel run holds one to five dogs.
Two dogs, a Yorkshire terrier and a Chihuahua, were found dead on the property, and a German shepherd was found dead after it was hit by a vehicle about a mile away, Welsh said.
Officials had said earlier that 13 dogs were missing but lowered the number to 12 after the German shepherd was found.
A preliminary examination by a veterinarian showed that the two dogs found dead on the property did not die of attack wounds from other animals. Welsh said the exact cause of death for each dog will be determined after a full necropsy this week.
Surveillance cameras at the shelter captured footage of the suspect, believed to be a man wearing dark clothing.
“But who might have done this? In our world we deal with a lot of angry people,” said Welsh, noting that some pet owners may be upset about impound fees or are upset if they are part of an animal cruelty investigation. “In the animal sheltering business, we have a lot of people that don’t like us.”
Several local animal welfare organizations are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident as a trespassing and animal cruelty case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jurupa Valley sheriff’s station at (951) 955-2600.
For breaking news in California, follow @MattHjourno.
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