Reward offered for information about Chihuahuas dumped in Riverside canal

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

A $500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for dumping two Chihuahuas, their mouths taped shut, in a Riverside irrigation canal. One of the dogs, a male believed to be about a year old, died in the canal; a female believed to be about 3 years old survived.

A public utilities worker found both dogs on a metal grate in the canal near Cridge and Olivewood late Monday morning, our colleagues at the L.A. Now blog report. The worker removed both dogs from the canal and removed the tape from the surviving dog before notifying the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

Animal services officer Kristina Hillegaart responded to the call and transported the surviving dog to the Riverside Animal Shelter, where she was examined for possible injuries or trauma. A veterinary technician reported that the dog seemed tired after her harrowing ordeal but was otherwise in fine physical shape.

Hillegaart expressed shock that anyone could go out of their way to harm the animals. ‘This was just complete malice,’ she said. ‘Someone was just looking to be cruel.’

Anyone with information about the dogs’ abuser is urged to call the Riverside animal shelter at (951) 358-PETS.

-- Lindsay Barnett