Mark Hicks

The Detroit News

The Michigan Humane Society is offering a $2,500 reward for tips leading to the person or persons responsible for maiming a dog found with his ears and nose cut off on Detroit’s southwest side this week.

A citizen spotted the severely wounded brown-and-tan Rottweiler mix near Livernois and Warren on Tuesday and alerted the humane society, officials said in a statement.

A rescue team found the dog and rushed him to the group’s Mackey Center for Animal Care in Detroit, where veterinarian staff tended to him.

Besides “viciously” removing the Rottweiler’s nose and ears, someone also apparently lacerated his tail and back legs, humane society officials said Wednesday.

“It appears that someone purposely maimed this poor dog, which has caused it a great deal of suffering,” said Mark Ramos, one of MHS’ lead cruelty investigators. “This kind of cruelty is unacceptable. We need to be a voice for these animals and as a community we need to speak through our strong actions to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

The animal remained at the Mackey Center as staffers monitor his health and determine the best course of treatment, said Kathy Bilitzke, the society’s marketing/communications director.

Meanwhile, MHS is working with a coalition of rescue groups to canvass the area where he was found and distribute fliers seeking tips to find whoever hurt him, she said.

“It’s not acceptable in this community,” she said. “We know this community is better than that.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Michigan Humane Society Cruelty Investigation Department at (313) 872-3401.