To the Editor:

PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] is urgently seeking the public’s help in identifying a man who was allegedly seen beating a dog following a recent hunt in Wakefield.

According to the concerned citizen who contacted PETA, the incident occurred Tuesday, Nov. 21, around 3 to 4 p.m. near a hunting path close to the intersection of Turkey Pen and Courtland roads. The man, described as African-American, in his mid-40s, 6 feet to 6 feet 5 inches tall with a neatly-trimmed beard and wearing a camouflage jacket and pants, allegedly punched the dog in the head and slammed the animal’s head into the tailgate of a bright red, late-model, Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck when the dog resisted getting into a dog box.

The dog, who appeared to be a tall, lanky Treeing Walker Coonhound or similar breed, was mostly white with brown patches and was wearing a tracking collar. S/he may have been knocked unconscious.

If you have information that could lead to the arrest of this man, please contact PETA at 757-622-7382. And remember, if you witness cruelty to animals, take a video or photograph and call local authorities immediately. Animals depend on us.

Daphna Nachminovitch
Senior Vice President,
Cruelty Investigations Department
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
Norfolk