By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

The Chilton County Humane Society recently received two puppies whose ears had been cut off with scissors.

Jemison Animal Control brought the puppies to the shelter on Sept. 8. Katherine Reece, president of the Chilton County Humane Society, believes they were going to be used as bait dogs.

“Their ears are often cut like this so the fighting dogs the people are training won’t just bite the ears,” said Reece. “They have to train them to attack the body. Most people think that comes naturally to dogs, but it doesn’t because we’ve domesticated them for so long.”

The two dogs were treated with antibiotics, but Reece said they would have to be inside dogs for the rest of their lives. This is because they cannot swat bugs away from their ears like most dogs.

An anonymous donor has offered a $1,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the animals’ abusers. The director of the Humane Society will handle the tips and pass them along to local authorities.

According to Reece, the animals were found near Randolph, close to the intersection of County Roads 21 and 214. They were reportedly seen in healthy condition a few days before they were found mistreated. For this reason, it is believed the abuse took place near where they were found.

If you have any information regarding the abuse of these two dogs, please contact the Chilton County Humane Society by email at chiltonhumane@gmail.com or message the shelter on Facebook. Photos of the dogs can be found at chiltoncountyhumanesociety.org.