A black terrier mix suffered three skull fractures, two fractured hips, two fractured knees, two fractured long leg bones and internal injuries neighbors said.
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His lifeless body was found hanging from a tree near the Sacramento River.
"We have a monster in our midst," neighbor Jace Huggins said.
Neighbors and businesses joined with animal groups are trying to collect $16,000 in reward money for anyone with information about the puppy's killer.
"I'm really scared. Is there a child in the home with the person who did this? Is there a partner whose too scared to come forward," Huggins said.
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The community held a meeting asking for neighbors to search their memories before Jan. 19 when the puppy was found.
"A lot of people may think it's going a bit overboard paying this much attention to catching an animal abuser, but recent events in Florida only highlights the urgency in catching the puppy killer," Lonnie Wong said.
Police and animal control officers are working to find the puppy killer as well.