FRED – The Tyler County Sheriff’s Office opened a report last Thursday on an incident that occurred in Fred, where two dogs were killed.
The two dogs, Rottewilers named Zeus and Nala, were found on FM 1943, near County Road 4880, with their collars missing, on the morning of Wednesday, August 12. Sheriff Bryan Weatherford personally examined both dogs, and confirmed that both had been shot. Another disturbing aspect, according to Dora Young, the dogs’ owner, is that they had been run over, so as to possibly give the appearance that they had been struck by a vehicle, instead of shot to death.
Young said that she’d received two separate phone calls the morning the dogs were found about them being on the highway. She said that there was also a claim made that the dogs had killed some chickens, prior to that.
A Go Fund Me account has been set up by Connie Vandekamp, who is the breeder of one of the dogs, to raise money toward legal expenses. It is accessible under the name “Justice for Zeus and Nala.”
A $5,000 reward is also being offered for information that leads to credible evidence leading to the identification, arrest and successful prosecution of the person or persons responsible for the killing of the dogs.
Vandekamp said the reward will only be paid after successful prosecution and conviction, but if multiple people provide credible information to the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office that results in such, then the reward may be divided.
“We intend to pursue every lawful avenue available to us and hold anyone proven responsible accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Vandekamp said. “This is not about retaliation. This is about finding the truth and getting justice.”
She encouraged anyone who might have witnessed anything in or around FM 1943 and CR 4880 in Fred on the morning of Wednesday, August 12, to contact Sheriff Weatherford at 409-283-2172.
