The reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of those responsible for poisoning six dogs, four of which died, has mushroomed to $8,500.

On Nov. 3, the reward was originally set at $1,500. Since then donations from the public hiked up the total to $4,500. On Wednesday, Napa Humane teamed up with the Humane Society of the United States and Pet Food Express to pitch in another $4,000.

The poisonings happened on Oct. 29, and Nov. 3, each involving three dogs who ate snail bate which was intentionally thrown into  the backyards of their Napa homes, where they were running loose. One of the dogs that survived, Rex, is Napa Police Officer Ryan Cole’s K-9 partner.

At this time, police do not know if the same person or persons are responsible for both incidents. The owners of the dogs do not know one another.

Napa Police Detective Mike Walund, who is lead investigator on the case, said, “We are working several leads. But right now, we don’t have any evidence that has lead us to the individual or individuals responsible for the animal cruelty. We have had a lot of people call in  information, but so far we don’t have a suspect.”

Cole said they have no other reports of dog poisonings they believe that are connected to these two particular cases.

“We have people calling about suspicious activity involving their animals, but we don’t think there is any connection,” Walund said.

The first poisoning on Oct. 29, happened on Sunview Drive in the Browns Valley area.

Sheri Smith came home from work to find her two rescue greyhounds, Greysha and CoCo, and Zoey, a German shepherd/husky mix, dead in her backyard.

She also found an open box of snail bait. Smith believes the pesticide was deliberately thrown into her backyard. She told police she did not have any snail bait on her property, and said she only uses animal safe products.

On Nov. 3, officer Cole’s wife found Rex, a German shepherd, and their pet dogs — Ruby, also a German shepherd, and Lily, a German shorthair puppy in seizures in their backyard in north Napa.

She also found a box of open snail bait in the backyard.

The dogs were taken to California Pet Hospital in Napa, where Lily died. It was touch and go for 12-year-old Ruby. Rex prognosis to recover was positive from the beginning. Ruby and Rex spent the night at the hospital and were reunited the next day with Cole and his family. Ruby and Rex will not suffer any lasting effects from the poisoning, according to veterinarian Randy Lung, who treated them.

Smith is overwhelmed by the generosity of the Napa community and humane society.

“It’s just incredible the compassion and outpouring the Napa community has shown for the animals and families. I just can’t began to thank everyone enough,” Smith said. “This focuses both on the compassion people have and the tragedy of it all.”

Smith said at this time she does not plan to replace Greysha, CoCo and Zoey.

“I have three Chihuahuas that I am going to concentrate on. They are strictly inside dogs,” she said

Officer Cole said Rex went back to his K-9 duties last Thursday.

“Everyone has been just great. This reward states how our community comes together. This has been very emotional on all of us. Our pets are like family, they are with us 24/7. It was awful my wife had to find them, and we all are wondering who is this crazy person out there that’s poisoning innocent animals.”

Jane Albert, executive director of Napa Humane, said, “It is so important that we come together to find who has committed these crimes. These are serious offenses, which must not go unaddressed or unpunished.”

Animal cruelty is a felony offense and carries a punishment of state prison.