$5,000 Reward Offered by PETA for Tips on Who Dumped Tied Up Dog on Side of the Road

For Immediate Release:
September 8, 2025

Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382

PETA is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction on cruelty charges of the person(s) responsible for abandoning a dog whose front and back legs were tied together near G-7 Ranch Road and Stephens Road in Ruskin on Wednesday. The small tan and white dog, believed to be a 2-year-old miniature pinscher and chihuahua mix, was found after he managed to get his front legs free from the bindings and pull himself down the road—leaving cuts and scrapes on his back legs—to a nearby residence, where the homeowner alerted authorities.

The suspect has not been identified and may have other animals in their possession—and animal abusers are often repeat offenders who present a threat to the entire community. Anyone with information should contact Hillsborough County Animal Control at (813)-744-5660.

“This dog depended on someone to keep him safe, but was instead tied up and discarded on the side of the road like trash, and it’s only thanks to his remarkable resolve that he didn’t die there,” says PETA Vice President Heather Carlson. “PETA urges anyone who has information about this case to come forward immediately before the individual responsible hurts someone else.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.