LISBON - The reward for the arrest and conviction of whoever burned a live calf has increased to about $9,000.
The United States Humane Society and the Columbiana County Farm Bureau offered $2,500 each in addition to $1,000 offered by the operator of Canfield car wash and other money by anonymous donors.
Ed Sabol, 6618 Lisbon Road, reported Sunday finding that one of his calves had been set on fire after being sprayed with an accelerant. He took the calf to his veterinarian, who euthanized the animal.
The 220-pound female animal was burned so severely that her hide was separated from the body.
It is believed that the calf was burned sometime Friday night.
"The Columbiana County Farm Bureau denounces this action by the person who committed the crime. If you have any information, please contact the Columbiana County Sheriff's Office at 330-424-7255," said Farm Bureau organization director Nick Kennedy.
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If you have any information on a calf burned alive in Lisbon last week, contact the Columbiana County Sheriff's Office at 330-424-7255.
Sheriff's deputies searched the farm for evidence. Members of the Humane Society of Columbiana County also visited the farm and looked for evidence of the assault.
"We've had a couple leads come into our office, maybe two or three, and my detectives are following up on those leads, but right now we have no real suspects," Sheriff Ray Stone said.
The estimated value of the calf is $600.
"It was the first case that I've seen in 32 years of something being burnt, at least this severely," veterinarian Dr. David Smith of Hanoverton said. ''You try to figure out who could do something like this. The calf had to be in excruciating pain due to the extensive nature of the burns."
Smith, who specializes in treating cattle and horses, estimates about 35 percent of the calf's body was burned. He said accelerants, such as lighter fluid or gasoline, were poured on the calf before it was set on fire.
"From the appearance it was probably like a two-day duration because the skin had started to peel. The calf was really quiet, it was very sedate, it didn't even have enough strength to lift its head," Smith said.
The Sabols said this is not the first time they've had problems with their cows. The couple has 24 beef cattle on the farm.
"Someone shot one of our cows in the head with a .22 rifle a couple years ago," Edward Sabol said. "We've had problems with kids riding their four-wheelers on the property.''
There also have been break-ins at the farm, he said.
WYTV 33 News contributed to this report.