Cats mutilated and killed
Reading, PA (US)Incident Date: Monday, Jan 31, 2005
County: Berks
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
The Humane Society of Berks County announced today that it is offering a $1,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for a string of recent cat killings and mutilations.
Over the past month, three cats have been found left outside the Humane Society of Berks County's Reading shelter. Each cat suffered from similar injuries and was left at the shelter in a similar manner. "When we found the first cat we thought it may simply have been hit by a car and left by the driver," said Karel Minor, the Humane Society's Executive Director. "After the other cats were killed it became clear that this was a pattern and that the cats were victims of an intentional crime."
The similarity of the injuries, the manner in which the cats were packaged, the timing and placement of the bodies being left at the shelter led the Humane Society of Berks County to take to unusual step of offering the $1,000 reward to any person providing information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case. "The person responsible for these brutal killings is clearly trying to send a message," said Minor. "We're also trying to send a message- that this kind of behavior is unacceptable and illegal. Whether this is a person who is mad at his neighbor's cats or just getting a sick thrill out it, the Humane Society wants to bring this person to justice."
Because none of the cats had collars, ID tags or microchips, the Humane Society is uncertain if the cats were stolen or owned by the perpetrator. The cats did not appear to match any lost pet reports on record at the Humane Society. Pennsylvania law defines the killing or maiming another person's animal as a second degree misdemeanor and provides for a fine of up to $5,000 and imprisonment of up to two years upon conviction.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Humane Society of Berks County by calling (610) 921-2348 or at www.berkshumane.org. If the information leads to an arrest and conviction, the caller will be eligible for the $1,000 cash reward.
If you have information regarding this case, please contact kminor@talon.net. If you have information on this case, please contact:
Berks County Humane Society
References« PA State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Berks County, PA
|
