Reward Raised For Info On Who Beat Dog To Death, Left Note

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PEMBROKE PINES (CBSMiami) - They're upping the ante to find the person, or persons, who left the body of a dog behind its owner's Pembroke Pines condo with a note attached to it which said "We beat it to death! lol! (evil smiley face). HAHAHA!"

On Tuesday, Pembroke Pines police tweeted out that Crime Stoppers had increased the reward amount for information on this case of animal cruelty to $15,000.

The 13-year old Pomeranian named Foxx belonged to Verline Bartheleny, her boyfriend Ronald Boisvert and the couple's four year old son Verron. She said on August 7th she let the dog out so he could use the grassy area behind their condo at 7980 N French Drive. Bartheleny said she's done this before and Foxx always returned minutes later. This time, however, he didn't.

The following morning the dog's body was found behind the condo with the note attached to it.

It was taken to Saint Francis Animal Hospital where a veterinarian's exam found it had multiple fractures. Dr. Ron Ridge says Fox had 10 broken ribs, missing teeth and a broken back. The vet says Fox was likely kicked to death.

Bartheleny wondered if the dog's death was racially motivated since she is black and her boyfriend is white.

"It's a biracial relationship. Maybe that's why they did that to Foxx," she said, adding that the dogs killing could be a hate crime.

Police declined to speculate as to motive in the dog's death.

Anyone with information on the dog's death is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.