Andrea Rosebrock 
While serving a warrant at the home of Lorenza Jones, 425 Audubon Drive, Danville, VA, this tiny little 6 week old puppy was found with its ears completely cut off and bloody box cutters were recovered from the trash. The owner knows who did it but refuses to say.
“The owner of the puppy knows who did this; he was there, he paid the guy, but he said he doesn’t know the guy’s name,” Paulette Dean, director of the Danville Area Humane Society said. “We’re offering the $1,000 reward because someone knows — someone knows who did this.”
The butchery was done very shortly before the arrival of police who call in Animal Control after finding the injured puppy at the residence.
“It’s pitiful,” Dean said. “The ears are just gone — two holes and that’s it. It evidently didn’t happen long before we got there because it was still very bloody and the puppy was lethargic, maybe even in shock.”
Dean said this went well beyond a botched home-cropping job.
“The AKC (American Kennel Club) sanctions ear-cropping in certain breeds, but of course by veterinarians,” she said. “Cropping is cosmetic surgery. In this case, the ears are just gone.”
Sadly, in many cases, people involved in dog fighting with cut off their dog’s ears so that competitor’s dogs have less to grab hold of. In other case, people actually cut off a dog’s ears because they believe it makes them look more menacing.
People who do this usually charge about $50 for the service and the Humane Society can seldom get the names which is why they are offering a reward of $1000 for information. The owner of the puppy is likely to be charged with animal cruelty.
In a case like this, where a dog’s ears are completely removed, the dog is likely to suffer from problems related to it in life. Their ear canals have no protection from the elements, dirt or anything so ear infections are a probability.
The puppy is recovering from its injuries at the Danville animal shelter. The Humane Society has filed for permanent custody of the puppy in General District Court. That hearing will be held April 16.
The case also is under investigation by the Danville Police Department, and charges of animal cruelty are pending against Jones.
“There’s no rhyme or reason for doing something like that,” Dean said. “It’s just cruel; you can’t justify it.”
The Humane Society has offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who cut this puppy’s ears off, or for information about any individuals who cut dogs ears off for a fee.
Anyone with information is asked to call (434) 799-5306.
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