Patagonia Offers Reward in Pet Deaths

Patagonia is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of whoever stoned to death two pet guinea pigs and two pet rabbits last week.

“We need to find out who was responsible for this,” said Lu Setnicka, head of public affairs for Patagonia. “This was such a direct violation of our kids’ space . . . these were live pets that the children loved. It meant a lot to the kids. They were part of their lives.”

Vandals broke into Patagonia in western Ventura on Thursday night.

Sprinklers were broken and car tires were slashed. But most gruesome, four animals that the children in the Patagonia child-care program kept as pets in their play area were bludgeoned to death.

The guinea pigs were left bloody in their cages. The children later found the dead rabbits, which they thought had escaped.

The deaths shocked the children and horrified the adults. News of the animal killings has led to an outpouring of support from the community.

Setnicka said people have brought by cookies for the children, and many in the community have offered to donate new pets.

But Susan Welbourne, administrative assistant for the child-care program, said the child-care center will hold off on getting new pets. And when it does get new pets, perhaps in a few months, educators will make sure they are safely inside at night.

People with any information should contact Officer Dave Matz or Officer John Castellanos at the west-side storefront at 648-8133.

Sharon Troll, a volunteer at the storefront, said that as much information as possible regarding leads would be kept confidential.

“It is sad for kids to see” the violence, Troll said. “But this is a very substantial reward for some small animals. We might have a chance of finding out who did this.”