Dead cat, 4 live kittens found in apt stairwell
Searcy, AR (US)Incident Date: Saturday, May 20, 2006
County: White
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
One dead cat and four live kittens were found in a trashbag below a stairwell at the Meadowlake apartment building by a resident there and later taken to Liles animal clinic, authorities said. It is one instance of animal neglect among many in the city of Searcy, said Nathan James, Searcy animal control officer. James said animal abandonment was the most common form of abuse in Searcy and that it increases in summer months when animals are breeding. He said that the Searcy Humane Society has received 125 stray animals this month alone. In the same stretch of time only 22 animals have been adopted from the Humane Society, James said. The cats left in the bag are doing well, said Amber Dillon, Searcy Police Spokesperson.
James said it is unlikely that any perpetrator will be found because he is the only animal control officer in Searcy and receives so many cases a day. Citizens who want to report instances of abuse should be willing to provide information such as the location of the animal, the type of the animal, the name of the owner and their own name.
Dillon said citizens who find stray animals should report it to the police department. James said he handles all animals including both stray domestic animals and wild animals such as raccoons and snakes. Dillon said that the Searcy police would be watching for signs of abuse this summer and enforcing laws against animal cruelty. "This summer I will be looking for three things: city licenses, rabies tags and quality water," James said. James stressed that animals must have access to water, food and shelter at all times but especially in the summer. He also stressed the importance of spaying or neutering pets. Spaying and neutering every domestic animal would definitely cut down on the amount of stray animals in Searcy, he said.
Animal cruelty is defined as abandoning an animal, subjecting any animal to cruel mistreatment, subjecting any animal in one's custody to cruel neglect or killing or injuring any animal in the possession of another. It is a Class A Misdemeanor punishable psychiatric or pychologic evaluation, fines or jail time.
The kittens found in the bag will be available for adoption June 10. Those wanting to adopt those kittens or any other animals at the Searcy Animal Shelter can call 268-3535. If you have information on this case, please contact:
Searcy Animal Shelter
268-3535
References
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