Reward offered in animal cruelty case

A national organization is offering a reward to solve a Spokane Valley animal cruelty case.

The Humane Society of the United States is promising $2,500 to anyone who can help lead to the arrest and conviction of whoever was responsible for burying a black Labrador puppy under a few feet of dirt, said Inga L. Gibson, program coordinator for the humane society’s regional office.

SCRAPS officers responded to a call March 18 about a dog that was yelping underneath a concrete slab. Officers found dirt had been filled into an entrance to a den under the slab, and the dirt had been trampled down.

The dog’s owners would not provide any information about how the incident happened, but they did release the dog to SCRAPS.

The dog was later adopted by someone in Hayden. Anyone with information is asked to call 509-477-2532.

– Christopher Rodkey

Park workers turning water back on

It must be spring: Cities around the region are turning the water back on at parks as they get ready for summer.

Park facilities in Spokane Valley, including restrooms, will be open Saturday.

Spokane County parks officials hope to turn on the water at Plantes Ferry Park and the Dishman Hills Natural Area early next week.

Facilities in Liberty Lake’s Pavillion Park opened last week, and the city hopes to have its water toys up and running Memorial Day weekend.

Park plumbing in Coeur d’Alene should be fully functional by the end of today.

And in Spokane, workers will spend the next several weeks reopening park amenities shut down for winter. Until everything is open, water is being turned on at parks only as needed for games and other events.

– Peter Barnes