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Authorities are looking for the person who fatally shot and beat a pet cat in the lower Hudson River Valley in New York last month, and officials say the suspect may be the same individual who has killed three other cats near the area since July.
Officials in Putnam County say a Patterson, N.Y, man called the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Feb. 7 and said his cat appeared to have been shot while it was outside.
Authorities found the 7-month-old black and brown female Calico cat, named "Blackfoot," with a neck wound; the feline also appeared to be paralyzed from its mid-section to its hind paws.
The cat was rushed to a nearby hospital, where veterinarians conducted an X-ray and found a metal projectile embedded in part of the animal's spine. Animal control officers said the suspect may have used a high-powered BB gun or a low-caliber rifle to fire the projectile at the cat.
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Veterinarians also found a spinal fracture that they believe was caused by blunt force trauma.
"I believe the person called her over, the shot her in the back, then kicked her," said Blackfoot's owner Robert Kitts, who found her bleeding outside his home last week.
The cat remained under veterinary care at the Westchester Animal Hospital until it died Feb. 11 due to progressive paralysis, authorities said.
Officials are looking into whether the latest case of cat abuse may be connected to a severed cat head found staged in August in an intersection half a mile from where Blackfoot was shot. Authorities are also investigating if those incidents are connected to two other cat beheadings in July several miles away in the Connecticut towns of Oxford and Fairfield.
"We responded to a call not quite half a mile from here where we found a decapitated cat's head that was placed in the middle of the road," said Ken Ross of the Putnam County SPCA. "That took place within a month of two cats that were found nearby in Connecticut in the same condition."
Authorities are concerned that the cat killer could move to more serious crimes.
"It's moving into the realm of -- something's going to happen to a human," said Ross. "Something's going to be done to a human because this person no longer has the control to hold back."
Anyone with information about animal abuse in the area is asked to call (845) 520-6915 or visit www.spcaputnam.org.
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What if they where rats and not cats, would this change the argument?
In your scenario is the rat a pet?
Not for me, it wouldn't. The sadistic torturing and killing of any person or animal will always be wrong and those who torture and kill people or animals are mentally disturbed. From pulling the wings off of flies to killing a child; it's the mindset of the sadist that needs to be addressed because, for them, any victim will do. It has nothing to do with the size of the victim although sadists do seem to like smaller, more helpless little things to work on. I wonder how many of them still wet their beds?
holly888 is 100% right.
Rats do not change the argument for me. I do not like them, but their intelligence is proven and respectable. Yet no pompous human should assume that they are so much greater than the least intelligent.
Nauseating.
I wish that sob would try that on one of my cats, I'd show him what pain was, me and my bff Glock. Come to Texas you coward and we'll show you how we deal with you down here. Anyone that would harm an innocent animal should be killed, no trail. The cops know why, because idiots like that go on to hurt children and other people. Sick and perverted shouldn't be allowed to have one more breath on this planet. Enough letting these morons hurt animals and children and innocent people, where do we draw the line? I'm all for hang'em high. None of having a bad childhood, which so many of us have had who have never hurt anyone. No excuse, you are a monster, you should be destroyed.
to the cat serial killer. better watch your back. wouldn't want to be you when they catch you.
In this land of equality....WHY can't these low level piles of chromesones be delt with "AS THEY HAVE DONE TO OTHERS ??????"
They should be done to as they have done to whomever, animal or human.
Here's one more great example of why we need easy, cheap, and legal abortion. The cretin that injured this cat is just another reason why I believe that God would be OK with someone disposing of this abomonation before birth.
Pretty much universal agreement here that these helpless, trusting cats deserver respect and the right to live--AWESOME!!
I wish there was as much concern out there for unborn human babies.
My cats are strictly indoor only but if I found some S.O.B. deliberately doing these kinds of things to any animal strictky for the joy of the cruelty he/she was inflicting, I would have no problem putting a bullet in his/her ass and let them deal with that. Human life is more valuable than those pets, but some humans forfeit their humanity when they engage in such activity and at that time become no more important than snake @!$%#. They should then be exterminated and flushed.
Why are so many here writing about how many birds cats kill? The point of this article is that there is a budding serial psychopathic killer on the loose.
This guys a complete nut, killing cats.
I wonder that the difference between this guy and any other murderer are?
I wonder if banning kicking of cats, or even feet would be the best solution for everyone.
What about CATS??? Yeah!!! If we BAN CATS their wont be any more to abuse!
That sounds F'N stupid doesn't it...
Love how MSN through in powerful BB gun OR low power rifle in there...
These idiots.
Undoubtedly, ONE truly sick individual.
We need to come together as a country and do something.
C'mon people.
I say we ban kicking cats. Better yet, lets ban kicking altogether.
No on needs to kick anything anyway, so if we ban kicking NO ONE WILL KICK.
We owe it to our kittens in this country to feel safe.
We owe our kittens a vote.
hang the SOB
I bet money your a cat hording fanatic. You probably got like 100 cats on your property don't you?
I totally despise any person who would harm any animal. I can only hope there is a special place reserved in Hell for animal abusers. I wonder how this man would like to be beaten to death? Hopefully someone will and they will never find the person who killed him. It would be justified! This person is not mentally ill. Has anybody ever heard of just pure damn meanness?
It is extremely important to find this sicko. His next target could be his own parents or neighbors. He or She needs to be institutionalized. No excuses this is a sick minded person, they start with animals and move on to people....
You ever been institutionalized? You might want to give the experience a try before recommending it to others.
And just what do you suggest DocMarlin? Have you ever been institutionalized? Perhaps you should be!
DocMarlin you are the one who is 'short a six pack'.
No one cares what a bunch of hippie animal rights activists think. So a few cats got terminated for defecating on the neighbors lawn one to many times, big deal. The way I see it the world is plagued by real problems like starving children in third world countries who could have enough meat for years if only all the cats in the country would be killed, heck skin the carcasses of these cats and use the fur to keep homeless people warm before wasting tax payer money trying to catch and prosecute the guy responsible. Hundreds of other species are hunted, mutilated, and killed every day all over the world yet what makes two or three felines so important?
This comment is for DocMarlin. You are an @!$%#! Maybe you should be skinned and fed to starving people!
DocMarlin sorry, and I still eat meat - however only vegetarianism will solve the world food crisis.
People who believe that domestic cats are the main killers of avian populations are neglecting to mention the true #1 killers - snakes! If you have ever been in the jungles of Guam, as I have, you will be surprised at how silent it is - NO birds! Snakes are responsible for eating any bird egg on the island - hence no birds. As a responsible cat owner I shower my cat with love and attention. After my daughter gave her to me as a companion I made sure that she was kept up with her vaccinations and was spayed as soon as she was old enough. I keep her strictly indoors per the veterinarians advice. Another thing about "indoor" cats is they won't be exposed to feline leukemia - a not very well understood disease that kills many cats way too young. The bottom line about any pet ownership is responsibility. If you take on a new pet treat it as a friend for life - you will be richly rewarded!
Excellent. And let us not forget, that like any living animal, she still needs exercise and sunlight.
People that allow their "pets" to run loose should be fined. Keep them in the house where they belong or suffer the consequences. So called "pets" that are seen killing wildlife should be put to sleep and the owners fined severely. The only good cat is the one that's mounted on the wall or served at the local restaurant.
It is true that cats are natural predators by nature. But your remarks only prove your ignorance. Perhaps you should be mounted on a wall!
Fred, I think you're confusing ignorance with fact. Go lick your cat and choke on a fur ball.
If pet owners will be fined for their pets killing wildlife, then all hunting by humans should be banned for good.
That the person is doing something that is outside of normal is a given. I hope that law enforcement catches the person, and the person tells why he/she was doing those things. (Did he/she have a nest of baby birds that was raided by a cat? Was he/she out for a walk with his/her baby, and they were attacked by a cat, and the little one got hurt? Or, does he/she enjoy the killing and dismemberment of the animal? Differences in the "why" could change a lot of the posts I am reading.) Not trying to make excuses for the person. Just trying to understand what motivates to such unusual behavior.
In fact, the hatred I read when someone disagrees with someone else's opinion borders on insanity. So, a person disagrees with you/me. That's human, and indicates (somewhat) the mental/moral/spiritual environment that each of us were brought up in. Don't give me a "Yes" person who agrees with everything I say. Give me a thinking "No" person, that just might help me see something that I have missed.
Great advice. So give me a 'No' person who can ignore something they hate and leave it alone. This is what my 'Yes' people can do with something they hate.
Besides decimating wildlife it would seem that this is another very good reason to keep kitty inside. Outside only if leashed and brought back in. If you cannot handle that, then put a bell on it. As a wildlife rehabber the amount of song birds killed each year is shocking. Sorry, but that is the absolute truth.
Get this nutbag sociopath off the streets.
As a wildlife rehaber, you are very ignorant if you are not aware of the number of species besides cats, which prey on birdlife.
Show me a cat catching a bird and I'll show you a sick or injured bird.
Show me a person shooting a bird and I will show you a sick or injured bird.
It all boils down if the pet owners were responsible there would be no problems. Do you think I might get the cat owner down the road to pay the $256.00 damage to the hood of my truck. No but maybe I will grow to like all the claw marks.
If you can prove to an owner that their animal is reponsible for the damage to your property, then a responsible pet owner should step up. If it were my cats or dog that caused damage (both of my cats are indoor cats, except when I bring them outside, and they have harnesses on when I do), I would be willing to pay for it. However, if you just find scratches and assume it's my pets, I wouldn't pay for it.
Cats aren't the only animals roaming around neighborhoods.
I volunteer to shoot him in the spine and cut of his pointed little head!!!!
Jazzyarizona you have an 'elevator which cannot reach the top floor'.
alabamawhiteboy....if the pet owners were responsible there would be no problems???? I agree pet owners (of which I am one) need to take responsibility for their pets but the poor cats don't deserve this.
Anyone who cannot stand the sight of a cat; or any other animal walking across their yard, needs to sell that property and move to a highrise in a city center; and shut up.