Cat mutilation
Albuquerque, NM (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Jul 9, 2003
County: Bernalillo
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
About 45 cats have been killed in Denver during the past year. The Rocky Mountain News reported the animals were sliced open and had their internal organs removed.
On July 9, a foothills boy found his pet in an arroyo, similarly disemboweled. Deep in a nearby drainage tunnel, police found evidence of some kind of ritual: cat fur, candle wax, broken glass and a makeshift scalpel.
Neighbors suspect the feline was gutted by teenagers who loiter in the neighborhood.
Floyd Smith, a retired 18-year veteran of Animal Services, said he saw similar cases throughout his career but doubts it was serious ceremony.
"These kids have bits and pieces of a fantasy," he said. "They don't know what they are doing."
There is a strong correlation between pet abuse by children and violence as adults, Pierson said.
"Once kids have done something like this, they need a lot of intervention," she said.
By publicizing the incident, animal advocates hope to deter similar crimes.
"Public outcry is the best thing we can do," said Janette Schluter, a volunteer with an animal rescue group.
Pierson said residents must keep watch over their loved ones - including the family cat or dog.
"Part of our job when we adopt them is to keep them safe and take care of them," she said. "Animal owners have a responsibility to keep cats in and keep an eye on their dogs." References
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