Search Is On For Animal Abusers

There is a disturbing case of animal cruelty in Tulsa. Investigators need help finding the criminals who poured an accelerant on several dogs and may have lit them on fire. News On 6 anchor Jennifer Loren reports some of the dogs survived the attacks, but their wounds will be permanent reminders of the cruelty they've suffered.

As the president of Tulsa Boxer Rescue, Laura Kyle has seen a lot of abused dogs, but none like this one.

"You know we have picked up dogs who are skinny. We've picked up dogs with broken legs. We've picked up dogs with embedded collars. But I can't imagine what he's feeling," said Kyle.

One dog, Winston, is being treated for severe burns after someone poured an acidic accelerant on his back and possibly set him on fire.

"If it was a game it's not funny, it's not," said Kyle.

But Winston is not alone in his suffering. Four other dogs have been taken to the Tulsa Animal Shelter with the same burns.

"It wasn't until about the third one that we started to realize that there might a pattern here. And then the forth one and the fifth one came in and then we realized there's definitely some kind of pattern, that someone is obviously doing on purpose," said LeaAnne Mitten of the Tulsa Animal Shelter. "Honestly I don't understand how someone could do this."

Investigators say all of the dogs were dropped within two miles of an intersection in North Tulsa so they believe the people or person who is doing this lives somewhere around there.

"It's a horrific crime to see them burned and scarred and in pain," said Deputy David Long of the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's deputies say there is nothing they can do about the abuse until someone comes forward with information about who abused these dogs and left them for dead.

"We don't have any evidence. Right now we need help from the citizens," said Deputy Long.

Maybe, rescuers say, we can stop this torture from happening to another friend like Winston.

"I want the person found and I want the DA to do something if the person is found. Tulsa County does not have a good history with animal cruelty," said Kyle.

If you have seen anyone dumping dogs near 56th Street North and Lewis call the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office at 918-596-5704 or call Tulsa police.

The Oklahoma Alliance for Animals has announced it's offering a $1,500 reward to bring the abuser to justice.