Pit bull burned: Animal rescue advocates canvass neighborhood for leads in animal cruelty case

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. - Volunteers with Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue are motivated by an animal cruelty case where a pit bull was found burned alive in January.

They have plenty of tape and flyers to wallpaper the neighborhood. What they need are fresh leads.

"People are still interested, it's on the lips of everyone in this neighborhood. Nobody wants to see cruelty of any kind, but this is about as severe as it gets," says Diane Potter, with the animal rescue group.

Time isn't on their side. After thirty days the reward for information leading to an arrest dropped from $30,000 to $25,000. In another couple weeks it could drop again, because some donations are time-stamped.

"There may be other crimes they want to donate to, or they don't want the money to just sit there unused. But their intentions are real and they want to help," says Potter.

Although tips continue to come in to the Riviera Beach Police Department, these volunteers know keeping the case fresh is crucial to solving it.

"People make enemies, as soon as someone gets mad at them and they know the person did it, a lot of times that's when they'll come forward," says Don Wulff, with Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue.