The Canadian chapter of Humane Society International is offering a $1,000 reward to find the people responsible for bludgeoning more than 50 grey seals in P.E.I. last weekend.

The dead and dying seals were found near Beach Point by students from the Charlottetown-based Atlantic Veterinary College.

"It is devastating that these nursing pups and mother seals were beaten in this brutal fashion and left to suffer in agony," Rebecca Aldworth, the executive director of Humane Society International/Canada (HSIC), said on the organization's site Friday.

"Humane Society International Canada calls on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the local law enforcement to conduct a rigorous investigation, and we hope our reward will help inspire people to come forward with information."

HSIC says it is an offence to interfere with marine mammals without lawful authority, while Canada's Criminal Code forbids causing needless suffering to animals.

HSIC is urging anyone who has information on the case to e-mail them at info@hsicanada.ca.