Humane Society Offers Reward for Information in Colchester, Conn. Dog Shootings

The Humane Society of the United States
Thursday, 7 February 2002

The Humane Society of the United States is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the shooting death of Kodiak and Yukon, two Siberian Huskies, in Colchester, Connecticut between December 12, 2001 and January 6, 2002. Kodiak and Yukon?s owners and many individual donors have already posted a $5,000 reward, bringing the total reward to $7,500.

The bodies of Kodiak and Yukon, missing since December 12, were found on January 6, at the Babcock Pond Wilderness Area, a state-owned wooded area south of Route 16, a half mile from the home of their owners, Flavia and Jeff MacLachlan. Kodiak and Yukon had been shot.

"Anyone capable of such a vicious attack on defenseless animals is a very real danger to other animals and people in the community," said Linda Huebner, program coordinator for The HSUS New England Regional Office in Jacksonville, Vermont. The HSUS regional office serves the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Hew Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

"There is a well-documented correlation between animal abuse and violence against humans," Huebner said. "That means that the person(s) who perpetrated these cruel acts remains a threat to people as well as other animals until they are brought to justice. We encourage anyone with information to contact the authorities."

The State Police are investigating the deaths as a case of animal cruelty. Under Connecticut law, an animal cruelty conviction is punishable by a prison term of up to five year and a fine of up to $5,000 per count of cruelty.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Trooper Denise Rodrigue or Sergeant Jerry Longo at the State Police department at 860-537-7500. All calls are kept confidential.

The HSUS' First Strike Campaign® raises public awareness of the connection between animal cruelty and violence against humans and is an educational resource for law enforcement agencies, social work professionals, educators, legislators, and the public.

For more information, or to contact The Humane Society of the United States, see their website at: www.hsus.org