(Nov. 23, 2006, updated) -- Calling the action "one of the most blatant and cruelly planned" acts of animal cruelty that it's ever witnessed in its nearly two decades of work in LB, Friends of LB Animals is offering a reward in the case of two Chihuahua dogs who appear to have been burned to death while alive in an animal cage in NW LB earlier this month.

[update] And on the heels (paws) of FoLBA's reward offering, others stepped forward to increase FoLBA's $1,000 reward offered.

FoLBA president Shirley Vaughan said long-time animal supporter Justin Rudd has added $1,000 and It's A Grind Coffee Houses added $3,000.

That means as we post shortly after dawn on Thanksgiving, there's now a total $5,000 offered as a reward.

Friends of LB Animals has issued the following statement:n

As previously reported by LBReport.com, LBFD has called what took place an appalling act...and is seeking the public's help in finding the person or persons responsible for the deaths of two small Chihuahua dogs, found in a burned-out animal carrying cage in NW LB earlier this month.

On November 4th at about 7:00 p.m., a resident reported finding the burned-out animal cage with the two, small dead dogs inside in an alley to the rear of 200 E. Barclay (south of 91 and west of 710 freeways, west of L.A. river, east of LB Blvd.)

There were no ID tags on the dogs or the cage.

Anyone missing their small dogs or with any information on this matter is asked to call LBFD's arson hotline at (562) 570-2582.