After a group of hikers found an abandoned German Shepherd wandering through the Malibu desert with its mouth sealed shut with a zip tie, an animal protection group is offering a $2,500 reward to find and hold accountable the person responsible.
Shortly before 8 p.m. on July 3, two hikers found the pup near Malibu Creek Canyon, according to a news release from In Defense of Animals. The dog had a bridle around its mouth and another around its neck.
The hikers quickly called 911 and removed one of the tethers before police and animal control arrived. Together, they removed the second tether and carried the animal to safety, the group said.
“Someone did it intentionally. They left him abandoned, on a hill in the middle of nowhere, on the side of the road,” one of the hikers who found the dog told KTLA. “Something needs to be done to find the person who did this.”
The dog, who In Defense of Animals described as “sweet and gentle,” warmed to his rescuers and eventually allowed them to pet him. He was later taken to the Agoura Animal Care Center.
“We are grateful for the quick action of these hikers and law enforcement, but our efforts must continue,” said Fleur Dawes, a spokeswoman for In Defense of Animals. “We are determined to find the person responsible for this horrific abuse and hold them accountable, as they are a danger to others.”
Anyone with information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of a suspect is asked to call In Defense of Animals at (415) 879-6879.
