A LEADING animal welfare charity has offered a reward of up to £1,000 to catch the children responsible for torturing two puppies.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Foundation will also target local schools with educational materials, designed to help children recognise the importance of showing compassion and empathy to all living creatures.

The charity’s action follows last week’s Observer report on two seven-week-old puppies, which were rescued by a woman in Newbold after she found a group of children torturing them over a bonfire on the bank of the canal in Newbold.

The pupppies, named Guy and Cinders by the RSCPA, are recovering in the animal shelter in Redcross Street.

PETA said that up to £1,000 would be given as a reward for information leading to the apprehension of the culprits.

PETA spokeswoman Suzanne Barnard called on parents, teachers, mentors and youth groups to act.

She said: "Animal abuse is never something to shrug off as part of growing up. Putting a stop to violent tendencies as soon as they become apparent must be a priority.

"Rochdale residents have every right to be concerned about the case.

"History shows that serial rapists and murderers often have histories of past incidents involving animal cruelty.

"Childkillers Mary Bell, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, as well as serial murderers Fred West, Ian Brady and Denis Nilsen, all started out by deliberately harming animals," she said.

More than 100 schools in the borough will be sent the educational mailshot, which includes an information sheet, a DVD and a poster.

Meanwhile, Guy and Cinders spent a restful weekend in the home of the RSPCA’s Linda King.

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said: "We thought it would be good for them as so many people have been coming in wanting to see them.

"So they went home with Linda over the weekend – and even slept on her bed."

Almost 100 people offered to adopt the pups.