Police are on the hunt for a person who they say killed a 1-year-old puppy by poisoning her with anti-freeze. And now a private citizen has put up a $1,000 reward to find the perpetrator.
“I can’t even sleep at night because I can’t fathom someone doing this to somebody,” said the dog’s owner, Amanda Von Ahnen.
The Mantua, New Jersey woman says she knew something was wrong back on April 7 after Bella, her 1-year-old Rottweiler, suddenly grew sick.
“When I came home Monday night at 8:30 she had lost all function of her back legs,” Von Ahnen said.
Vomiting, unable to walk and falling into a semi-comatose state, Bella was rushed to the veterinarian and then euthanized the next day after her kidneys failed.
According to the vet, Bella died from anti-freeze poisoning.
Von Ahnen tells NBC10 she remembers seeing a plastic bowl in her backyard the day Bella got sick but thought little of it. When she went back to retrieve it later that night, the bowl was gone. Von Ahnen believes someone placed the anti-freeze inside the bowl to intentionally poison her dog.
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Mantua Police also suspect the dog was specifically targeted by a person familiar with the area.
“It’s very personal,” said Mantua Police Sergeant Brian Grady. “People treat their pets like family members and it’s tragic.”
Von Ahnen’s 5-year-old son Sebastian is also coping with the loss.
“I miss her a lot,” Sebastian said. “But we have her pictures and we have her ashes.”
For Von Ahnen, her sorrow has turned to anger.
“I will say it a million times,” she said. “I refuse to stop until this person is behind bars.”
The $1,000 reward is being offered by a private citizen for information that leads to both an arrest and conviction in the case. Both Mantua Police and Animal Control officials are investigating. Once found, the dog’s killer will face animal cruelty charges. Anyone with information is asked to call Mantua police at 856-468-1920.
