Rewards increased in swan, turtle abuse

An assistant at the Wildlife Rescue Center of the Hamptons... — An assistant at the Wildlife Rescue Center of the Hamptons in Hampton Bays, displays a patch over the exit wound after a 3-inch nail was removed from a eastern box turtle. The nail pierced the top of the turtles shell and went through the soft tissue. Credit: John Dunn

By GARY DYMSKIgary.dymski@newsday.comJuly 26, 2011

Rewards have increased significantly for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the recent abuse cases of a swan and turtle, the Suffolk County SPCA said Tuesday.

The reward for a turtle that had a nail driven through its shell is up to $12,500, the animal protection group said. The reward for a swan shot with an arrow is up to $11,000.

Chief Roy Gross of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said donations aimed to increase the rewards have poured in since the release of information on the two abuse cases.

The swan was found Saturday near Indian Island County Park in Riverhead, the SPCA said. The arrow was removed from its body, but the swan is still unable to walk because of possible nerve damage. It is recovering at the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in Hampton Bays.

On July 5, a box turtle was found injured in Sag Harbor after someone apparently drove a 3-inch nail through its shell. The nail was removed surgically and the turtle is expected to be released back into the wild once it fully recovers.

Originally, the reward for information in both cases was $1,000 each.

Gross said the cruelty was "premeditated acts of abuse against innocent wildlife."

Anyone with information on the abuse incidents can call the Suffolk County SPCA at 631-382-7722. All calls are kept confidential.

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