By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Reward money for information leading to an arrest in the strychnine poisoning of three dogs has been increased to $6,ooo.

According to the Humane Society of the High Plains Treasurer  Marilyn Marshall, her board voted last week to add $1,000 to the $5,000 reward already offered by the National Humane Society offered last week.

“We are concerned not only for the animals, but we are concerned about the children getting into (the strychnine) so that is why decided to increase the reward money,” Marshall said.

The dogs, two Labrador retrievers and chihuahua, died within hours of each other Dec. 18 in a residential neighborhood just west of Hays.  The two labs lived with one family, and chihuahua lived with a family with next door.  A local veterinarian determined the cause of death to be strychnine poisoning and contacted local law enforcement.

Ellis County Sheriff Ed Harbin said his department has received one tip and continue to investigate.

“We are hoping the reward money will give investigators some much needed information,” Harbin said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department at (785) 628-1040.