Found Puppy

(July 3, 2013) — Animal Rescue Fund, a St. Joseph County-based animal welfare organization, is

offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the

person or persons responsible for abandoning a puppy in a box in Burr Oak, Mich.

The Case: The Animal Rescue Fund gives the following account: On Tuesday, July 2, Kayla Howard, a

resident of Sturgis, took her son to a park in Burr Oak while visiting relatives in town. Seeing a box with

holes in it sitting next to a dumpster near the town post office, Kayla went over to investigate. Inside the

box, she found a very young brown and whit puppy, covered in feces. Upon calling the county animal

shelter but finding that it was after shelter hours, she took the puppy home for food, water, and a bath.

Representatives of Up-Cycled Pets, a St. Joseph County animal rescue group, are now delivering food to

the puppy and will take her to Lake Area Veterinary Hospital in Sturgis for a full veterinary examination.

“Animal abandonment is against the law, and this type of callous and thoughtless crime needs to be

prosecuted in order to protect animals and people in our community,” said LeeAnn Farmer, director of

Animal Rescue Fund. “We hope our reward helps motivate someone to come forward with information

that leads to a conviction in this case.”

“There are options out there for people in St. Joseph County who feel they have nowhere to turn with a

pet they can’t keep,” said Lynda Molter, president of Up-Cycled Pets. “I urge anyone who is faced with

that situation to call Up-Cycled Pets first at (269) 273-1514, and we will give you detailed, nonjudgmental

guidance on what to do next. But do not just abandon your animals!”

Animal Cruelty: Getting the serious attention of law enforcement, prosecutors and the community in

cases involving allegations of cruelty to animals is an essential step in protecting the community. The

connection between animal cruelty and human violence is well documented. Studies show a correlation

between animal cruelty and all manner of other crimes, from narcotics and firearms violations to battery

and sexual assault. Animal fighting is also closely associated with other criminal activities such as gangs,

narcotics, illegal weapons possession, public corruption and various violent crimes. A three-year study by

the Chicago Police Department found that 70 percent of animal offenders had also been arrested for other

felonies, including domestic and aggravated battery, illegal drug trafficking and sex crimes.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Animal Rescue Fund at (269) 718-3826 or

leeannfarmer@yahoo.com.

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Media Contact: Lynda Molter: (269) 506-3078, upcycledpets@gmail.com

The Animal Rescue Fund was created as a way of raising funds for animal care in St. Joseph County,

Michigan. We are a registered charity organization, so donations are tax-deductible. On the web at http://

arfund.homestead.com/ARF.html.

Up-Cycled Pets was founded to help the animals of St. Joseph Co. find loving homes and put an end to

any past cruel and inhumane treatment they may have suffered. Our program will place cats and dogs in

safe foster homes until the best permanent homes can be found. On the web at www.upcycledpets.com.