Thanks to the generosity of the Napa community, the reward to help police nab whomever is responsible for recently poisoning six dogs, killing four of them, is up to $3,000.

The reward has doubled since it was first offered last Tuesday.

“We have received donations from many concerned citizens and businesses,” said Napa Police Cmdr. Steve Potter.

Potter said a local Napa business, which has asked to remain anonymous, has printed reward fliers that will be distributed throughout the city.

At this time, investigators have no suspects. “But we are aggressively following all our leads,” Potter said.

Last Monday, Napa Police Officer Ryan Cole’s K-9 partner Rex, along with Cole’s two pet German shepherds, Ruby and Lily, got critically ill when they ate snail bait, which was intentionally thrown into the backyard of Cole’s north Napa home, police said.

Lily died. Rex and Ruby were rushed to California Pet Hospital where their stomachs were pumped to rid them of the poison. Both dogs recovered and are back home. Rex has not returned to his K-9 duties, Potter said on Friday afternoon.

On Oct. 29, Sheri Smith came home from work to find her two greyhounds and German shepherd/husky mix dead in the backyard of her Browns Valley home.

The dogs also died after eating snail bait, which Smith said someone tossed into her backyard.

If the person or persons who are responsible for poisoning the dogs are caught and prosecuted, they could face felony charges of cruelty to animals and intentionally injuring a police dog, which carries state prison time and hefty fines.

Donations may be made to the reward fund by calling Potter at 258-7882.

Anyone with information about the poisonings is asked to call Napa police investigations at 257-9566.