Cat, puppy beaten to death, left at shelter - New Cumberland, WV

Tuesday, Feb 19, 2008

Police are looking for person or persons who maliciously killed a cat and a puppy and left them outside of the Hancock County Animal Shelter.

"It is a really despicable act," said Brian Vaughn, an animal technician at the Hancock County Animal Shelter.

Vaughn told NEWS9 he walked outside to grab a carrier for some adopted animals.

He made a gruesome discovery inside one of the carriers: a 6-week-old puppy and a cat were dead, stuffed inside a garbage bag.

"This is one of the worst things I've ever dealt with," said Vaughn.

Deputies said the animals were disfigured, and this was a malicious act.

"It appeared to me they had been run over," said Deputy Jeff McIntyre. "…either run over or beaten with some type of object."

Shelter employees told NEWS9 they couldn't fathom someone doing this.

"We take in anything," said Lori Watson, director of the Hancock County Animal Shelter. "If they would've brought them to our door, we would've taken in the animals without any questions asked.

Now the sheriff's department is taking the carrier and the garbage bag and sending them both to a crime lab for testing.

"It's always disturbing because if someone can do this to an animal," said Sheriff Mike White. "Obviously they're not going to have any qualms about doing it to a person."

"We want to find out who did this," said Watson. "…and see them brought to justice, so this doesn't happen to another animal."

White said a local veterinarian will examine the animal remains to find out the cause of death.

If you have any information in this case, you can call the NEWS9 Lauttamus Security Crimebusters Tipline at 1-800-862-BUST.

It's a free call and you don't have to leave your name.

If you have information on this case, please contact:
Crimebusters Tipline
1-800-862-BUST

References

• WTOV - Feb 20, 2008

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