I cannot stand seeing the following words in the Albert Lea Tribune over this past week.

“The Freeborn County Humane Society is asking for the public’s help identifying any information tied to a dog found dead Sunday in a ditch north of Gordonsville.”

And also, “Three dead dogs were reported found in a ditch at 75769 150th St., west of Glenville, at 8:41 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office. The person who reported the incident stated the dogs were possibly chocolate Labrador retrievers that weighed about 15 pounds each.”

The first dog I mentioned was between 1 and 3 years old and was found dead in a large plastic dog crate with a shut metal swinging door on 120th Street about 500 feet from the road’s intersection with Freeborn County Road 26.

Authorities believe the dog was still alive when it was thrown into the ditch and estimated the dog had been dead for three to four days, and it appeared to have tried to chew through the crate. Death was thought to have been because of dehydration, exhaustion and starvation.

Are people crazy? Excuse me while I get up on my soapbox, but to hurt a defenseless animal is reprehensible and absolutely shameful. It is cowardice at its worst.

I own two dogs and looking at them the night I read each of the above statements, I could not fathom the type of person who knowingly would cause harm to a vulnerable, loving animal.

Dogs do one thing. They love. They love the family they are a part of more than they love themselves. I only hope to ever be the person who my dog thinks I am.

If anyone knows the people who are doing this, please call the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office at 377-5200 or the Freeborn County Humane Society at 373-8501.

I do not know if these two incidents are a part of the work of the same sadistic and heartless person, but if you know anything about the person or people who killed these unprotected pups, please call the authorities right away. Please help catch these vicious people who would bring harm to these animals. We need to catch them before it happens again.

If the criminals who did this happen to read this column, turn yourself in. You need to know that you have other options when dealing with animals. These actions you can take do not result in killing such amazing animals.

Please stop!