MARINA DEL REY (CBSLA.com) — Two animal rights organizations are offering rewards for information that will lead to a puppy killer in Marina del Rey.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society are both offering $5,000 rewards, according to Aaron Reyes, deputy director of the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control.

A group of lightweight-boat paddlers said they noticed a shovel with a blue handle was sticking out of the water on Mother’s Beach last Wednesday morning. When they got closer, they were shocked to find a black rope wrapped around the neck of the mixed-breed puppy, which was tied to the shovel.

One of the paddlers, Malia Zimmerman, posted a photo of the dog to her Facebook page. “Sometimes people can be extraordinarily cruel,” she wrote. “We already reported this act of animal cruelty but it would be great to catch the puppy killer.”

Reyes said “we’re still looking at leads. We’re trying to get some updated information. We have an outdated tag with the name of a former owner. But this is like many such investigations. We have many scenarios in the list, digging up and calling and interviewing people.”

“This little dog endured the error and agony of being staked to the sand and drowning in the rising ocean waters,” said PETA Senior Director Colleen O’Brien. “PETA urges anyone with information about this crime to come forward immediately, before whoever is responsible for this animal’s horrifying death hurts someone else.”

Anyone with information is urged to call the Department of Animal Care and Control at (562) 728-4572.