FRANKLIN, Texas — Animal Wellness Action just announced it is doubling its reward to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator responsible for a barbaric act of animal cruelty in Robertson County, Texas. The decision comes after receiving and reviewing disturbing photographs of the dog’s catastrophic injuries, which have heightened outrage among advocates and the public alike.
Watch Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, announce the increased reward here: Reward Announcement Video

The case in late July, when a local woman, Ashlee Snell, discovered a severely injured small dog near Little Mississippi Cemetery Road. The dog, barely alive and suffering from a shattered jaw, extensive facial trauma, and a hole in his chest, was believed to have been deliberately harmed using a firework or explosive device, according to veterinary professionals and investigators. The injuries were so severe that the only humane option was euthanasia.
The Robertson County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the incident. Sheriff Bill Ruland has confirmed the injuries were consistent with an explosive device and called the case “horrible,” urging the public to assist in identifying the perpetrator.
“Seeing these images takes our outrage to an entirely new level,” said Pacelle. “The cruelty inflicted on this small, defenseless dog is almost beyond comprehension. This was not just an attack — it was a calculated act of sadism. We are doubling our reward to $10,000 because someone out there knows who did this, and we want that person brought to justice without delay.”
Animal Wellness Action is urging anyone with information to contact the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office at (979) 828-3299.
The organization is also pressing for stronger federal enforcement capacity to combat animal cruelty, citing the close link between cruelty to animals and violence toward humans. The Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act, H.R. 1477, would create a team of dedicated prosecutors to work with local and federal authorities to enforce anti-cruelty laws, and the FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce Act, H.R. 3683, would establish a specialized policing unit within the FBI to focus on animal cruelty crimes.
Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy continue to fight for animals across the nation, working to end cruelty and hold abusers accountable to the fullest extent of the law.