Thieves broke into a pet store in northeast Seattle, killing several small animals and opening cages.
The thieves hacked through the front door of Animal Talk pet store and shelter in the Roosevelt neighborhood sometime on the night of Oct 6 early morning Oct 7. Volunteers arrived to find animals scattered everywhere and several dead animals on the floor.
The 44 cats fought each other and hunted the smaller animals.
Some animals suffered an even crueler fate.
"Some of the animals were obviously stepped on intentionally, they were flat as pancakes," said shelter owner Missy Young.
They took all the reptiles, including an iguana, and some merchandise.
Staff and volunteers recovered all of the cats that were let loose and are setting traps for the smaller animals. Many of the cats were injured and will need vet care.
"If you want to take something take it..but you do not have to harm the animals in the process. that is totally malicious," said Young.
Damage is estimated in the thousands of dollars.
"This is an afront to the neighborhood," said volunteer Gaye Davies. "Animal talk has been a mecca for people with questions, people with lost animals."
Young warns that the stolen iguana is mean and he bites.
Police have no suspects. Case UpdatesA total of $5,000 in reward money is being offered in connection with a pet store break-in over the weekend.
The operators of the "Animal Talk" pet store and shelter say cats have been traumatized by burglars who ripped open cages, kicked the cats and stomped gerbils and mice to death.
Pasado�s Safe Haven is offering $2,500 and the Humane Society of the United States is also offering $2,500 for information about those responsible for the crime.
Early Saturday morning, thieves hacked through the front door of the store in the Roosevelt neighborhood. Volunteers arrived to find animals everywhere and dozens of dead animals on the floor.
The 44 cats that were let out of their cages fought each other and hunted the smaller animals.
�It was just devastating initially because to get to the cats and to get to the animals we were having to walk over little dead bodies,� said owner Missy Young.
Lots of help is pouring in, but much more is needed now that the full extent of the damage is becoming clearer.
A veterinarian who examined the cats on Sunday determined that seven had been brutalized.
"At least two of them had to have been drop-kicked. They have internal injuries, bruising, bleeding," said Young.
The shelter is now looking at thousands of dollars in vets bills and are in shock after realizing what the cats went through.
"What initially happened seemeed like a spree, an immature and cruel act but this just goes into the relam of vicious. It's torture," said volunteer Susan Wilk.
A spokeswoman for the Humane Society of the United States said Saturday's crimes demonstrate that people who commit cruelty to animals often engage in other illegal activities.
"The suspect(s) in this case not only committed burglary but may face felony cruelty charges for intentionally killing and injuring animals," said Inga Gibson.
Gibson said studies have found that people who abuse animals are likely to escalate to violence against humans.
"The FBI has recognized the connection since the 1970s, when its analysis of the lives of serial killers suggested that most had killed or tortured animals as children," she said.
Gibson said research has also shown consistent patterns of animal cruelty among perpetrators of more common forms of violence, including child abuse, spouse abuse, and elder abuse.
"Residents should be concerned that such offenders are in their community and such crimes should be taken seriously," she said.
How you can help
Send donations to: Animal Talk Rescue C/O Animal Talk, 6514 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115.
If you have information relating to this crime, or know of someone who may have one of the stolen animals in custody, contact the Seattle Animal Shelter at (206) 386-PETS(7387) or the Seattle Police Department non-emergency line at (206) 625-5011 | Source: King 5 - Oct 9, 2006
Update posted on Oct 20, 2006 - 10:59PM |
The Humane Society is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest or conviction of burglars who killed 25 small animals and injured several others Saturday at a pet store and animal shelter on Roosevelt Way Northeast.
The break-in at Animal Talk occurred between 3:30 and 6 a.m. Saturday. Thieves also took several reptiles worth nearly $2,000, including eight geckos, a ball python and an iguana. They also released about 50 cats from their cages, beating and kicking several, and killed more than two dozen small rodents.
Damages likely will top $5,000 for the non- profit rescue shelter, which operates on dona- tions. There were no witnesses to the incident, and no arrests had been made as of Monday. | Source: SeattlePI - Oct 10, 2006
Update posted on Oct 15, 2006 - 6:35PM |
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