Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Bloody Animal Shelter Break-In Leaves Four Dogs Dead, Seven Missing
A suspect broke into a Riverside County animal shelter, leading to the death of four dogs, and leaving behind a bloody scene.
At some time between Saturday night and Sunday morning, someone broke into the Western Riverside County Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley and cut the locks on 22 kennels, reports KTLA. When an employee arrived at the shelter around 6:30 a.m. Sunday, he found a grisly scene of blood-splattered walls, two dead dogs—a Yorkshire terrier and a Chihuahua—and dozens of dogs out of their kennel running around the property. And while authorities are still trying to determine the cause of the deaths, they have determined that they did not die of attack wounds from bigger dogs.
“We found blood spatter everywhere,” John Welsh, spokesman for the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, tells KTLA. “There were some blood markings that were about 3 feet off the ground. We don’t know exactly what caused that, but we don’t suspect that an animal jumped into the air and caused that blood spatter.”
A German shepherd—first thought to be missing—was later found dead about a mile away after being struck by a vehicle. A fourth dog was found dead on Monday morning from the same cause. Thirteen dogs were initially reported missing, but following the discovery of the two that were rundown and four that were located, seven dogs remain missing.
Support for LAist comes from
Surveillance footage shows the suspect—believed to be a man wearing dark clothing—breaking into the shelter.
"But who might have done this? In our world we deal with a lot of angry people," Welsh tells the L.A. Times, explaining that sometimes pet owners get upset about impound fees, while others are angered 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."
15 busted locks get dusted for possible prints. #shelterbreakin we hope bad guy is next to get busted. pic.twitter.com/1dWRpQmZOJ
— RivCO animalSERVICES (@helpinRIVcoPETS) September 14, 2015
Several local animal welfare groups have offered a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the incident as a trespassing and animal cruelty case. Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact the Jurupa Valley sheriff’s station at (951) 955-2600.
The incident follows a string of horrible chemical attacks that have burned at least nine dogs in the Antelope Valley.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist