Dearborn Shelter Offers $1,000 Reward for Arrest in Animal Cruelty Case

On Monday, Aug. 26 at approximately 9:50 p.m., the Dearborn Heights Police Department received a tip from an anonymous passerby. The caller informed police that a dog was tied to a rock that had been thrown into the Rouge River in Dearborn Heights, near the intersection of Warren Road and Outer Drive.

Officers responding to the call recovered the dog from the muddy bank of the river.

Dearborn Heights police reached out to the Dearborn Police Department for assistance, as Dearborn Heights does not have after hours animal control officers, nor a place to house animals involved in cruelty incidents. The dog was muddy, but otherwise appeared to be in good condition. Officers took the dog to the Dearborn Animal Shelter for observation.

After several days of care, the dog, now named River, is doing well, shelter officials said. The dog appears friendly with staffers and has a healthy appetite.

“Animal cruelty of any kind is deplorable, but this situation seemed vicious in its intent. The dog, a labrador retriever/hound mix, appears to be very friendly and we are disturbed that anyone would do such a thing to it," said Elaine Greene, executive director of the Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter.

River will soon be ready for a new home and available for adoption from the shelter.

In an effort to assist Dearborn Heights Police in the case, the Dearborn Animal Shelter is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the individual or individuals responsible for the crime.

For more information call the Dearborn Heights Police at 313-277-7408.