Now suspected in mutilated cat case: dogs.

Authorities now say that two recent cat mutilations in the Largo area were not the result of cruelty to animals, as some suspected. Sheriff's detectives said in a Friday news release that they showed photos of one of the dead animals to Pinellas County Animal Control and were told "the cats were likely killed by dogs." They also found no evidence that a cutting instrument had been used.

The first animal was discovered dead on March 13 when the owner returned home at 5 p.m. to find part of the animal in the yard. She buried the remains before reporting it to deputies. The second animal was found April 4 by a resident walking his dog. Deputies were unable to find the owner.

Earlier, WTSP-TV reported that three cats had been mutilated in the Del Prado subdivision plus three more in an adjoining neighborhood, where two rabbits have met a similar fate in the past month. "It's not like my cat got run over. It's not like some random kid with a new BB gun just doing target practice. This is someone who intentionally cut our cat in half,'' said Kelly Paradise, whose cat, Oscar, was killed last weekend.

Comments

[Tim]

Wow !! I'm not a "cat person" but that's pretty "F"ed up...

[Don]

It starts with little animals and eventually will lead to the killing of people. This idiot needs to be caught and put into some kind of mental institution.

[cutter]

perhaps they are using them for spaghetti sauce

[mm]

Please come to my neighborhood ( The Lakes) and try that $h**! I would love to find you sick bast#@d.

[Duke]

That's interesting. Cats are very quick and extremely difficult to catch or corner. Was the perpetrator shooting the cats with a pellet or BB gun first?

[RU Kidding Me]

Where is the Del Prado subdivision? the article above says St. Pete, but WTSP byline is Largo...

[James Bayly]

The cats are most likely roaming and scratching peoples car or other similar damage and someone is angry. Don't get me wrong it does not justify that cruelty but I am just giving a reason.

[Jerry]

Not to say that this is the answer but predators will sometimes take the head of an animal. I have seen this happen on trails in the woods. Is there an owl in the area?

[Tom Scherberger, tampabay.com deputy metro editor]

RU, thanks for pointing that out, we fixed it.

[Not The Marlboro Man]

The sign of a declining society is the way they treat the environment, wildlife and people around them. Our society has had it too good for too long with too many freedoms with too little consequences for our putrid judgement.

[bob]

Hye James, you are an idiot. Maybe all birds should be killed as well since they may take a crap on your car.

[J]

at least they werent dogs

[Bob]

If someone did this to one of my animals, I would burn their house down.

[Gumbo]

Just have to point out that I've never seen a cat scratch a car. Honestly, there is no excuse for cruelty to any creature. This person needs to be found and evaluated.

[Dave]

Since when does a cat scratch a car? If I'm a police officer, I'm calling James Bayly up for questioning. What a strange statement to make online.

[Jessica]

Almost all serial killers start off killing animals (and usually in a grotesque way). Its probably a kid/teen and probably is on his way to being a high profile criminal.

[Simon]

Clearly James Bayly raises suspicion.

[Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Media-Alert Message]

Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Media-Alert Message
Re: Media Inquiries Regarding Cat Deaths in Largo

This morning we have had numerous media inquiries regarding the death of two cats in the unincorporated area of Largo. Speculation that the cats were intentionally killed and dismembered by a human being has been ruled out in both cases. Detectives have determined that both animals were likely killed by a dog, or dogs that were unsupervised in the neighborhood.

The first incident was reported on Thursday, March 13, 2008. According to deputies the owner of the cat had let the animal out at about noon. When she returned home around 5:00 p.m., the pet owner found part of the cat in her yard. The woman buried the remains before reporting her discovery to deputies.

The second case was reported on Friday, April 4, 2008 after a resident who had been walking his dog just before midnight discovered the dismembered remains of a cat in a neighbor’s yard. Deputies responded to investigate but they were unable to identify the cat’s owner.

Both incidents were documented as possible acts of animal cruelty by the responding patrol deputies, and both cases were then referred to our Investigative Operations Bureau for follow-up. Detectives assigned to the cases tell me that as part of the investigation they consulted with officials from Pinellas County Animal Control. Animal Control Officials were shown photographs documenting the injuries sustained by the second cat, and it was determined that the cats were likely killed by dogs.

Detectives have found no evidence that a knife or other cutting instrument had been used to kill the animals, and there is no evidence to support a theory of human involvement. Furthermore, detectives say the remains were discovered in a manner consistent with a dog attack rather than an attack by a wild animal.

I hope this message has sufficiently answers all questions about these investigations for everyone who has called.

[p]

I do not want to say anything, but is there a chinese resturaunt around that neighborhood.

[Andrea]

I have 5 indoor only cats (they are all rescues). Please remember to keep your pets indoors. That is the only way to keep them safe from harm by humans, cars, or other animals. My cats were once outdoor cats and they now want nothing to do with the outdoors because they now live in a clean, safe, and loving environment. Cats or any other domestic animal are not disposable.

[Lee Ann]

Well this is tragic,there is a "leash law" in Pinellas that applies to dogs as well as cats.

PLEASE PUT A LEASH ON YOUR CAT OR DOG AND DO NOT LET YOUR PETS ROAM FREE.

Loose pets are a real problem in some neighborhoods,causing bites and auto accidents trying to avoid the loose pets.

[Joe]

HA, All you tree huggers! What do you say now that the thing harming your precious "natural" world is, well, nature itself. The kindest fate any wild animal could hope for is to be killed by a human, so called natural death in the whild is far more barbaric.

[Monkeyface Jones]

Joe, we're all animals. Which I guess in your logic means it's totally cool for me to kill you.

[Cheryl]

This is a very troubling story. As a cat lover and care giver, I wouldn't trust the PCAC as far as I could throw them. Welch Agnew, their director of veterinary services(!) does not support Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) programs for feral cats because they are not native to Florida (link below). Is he kidding? How 1960’s of you Welch.

Extensive research supports TNR as the only humane way to control the feral cat populations.Google it. Pinellas ordinance that requires people keep cats indoors is ridiculous. How do you police that? My cats are and always will be indoor cats but I still see cats roaming my St. Pete neighborhood. Some of these cats have homes others are just feral. In a year, we’ll have the same problem Tarpon Springs is trying to deal with.

From the SP Times: http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/01/Northpinellas/Attention_turns_to_st.shtml

[Brian]

Cheryl, are you an idiot or what?? Trap, Neuter, and RE-ABANDON is not the answer. Outdoor cats (feral or not) have half the lifespan of indoor cats and are often tragically killed or suffer from disease until their death. Also, what about the THOUSANDS of native species killed by free roaming cats that are not killed for food but just for sport (Cats kill just to kill and often do not eat their prey). Allowing people to trap, neuter, and re-abandon is cruel and everyone particpating in such cruelty should be thrown in jail. By offering idiots like you the opportunity to dress in prison orange for your cruelty would definitely help "police" the situation.

[3rd Reiche]

If it is a person or persons doing this, they should be sent to the Scientologists and "counciled"

[john]

Reading the previous comments posted has truly demonstrated what a bunch of idiots you cat lovers are. Stick em in a bag and put it in the nearest lake along with all you cat-a-tonic folks

[Cheryl]

Brian, No I’m not an idiot but I can see that you respond like one. Do your research before you spew the common, uneducated arguments about TNR which have no basis in reality. Here’s a brief education for you since you obviously don't know how to Google - TNR programs actually R-E-A-L-E-A-S-E spayed/neutered cats if they can not be socialized (look that word up in the dictionary). They are not abandoned since sponsored programs support volunteers who care for the colony. It costs you, if you pay taxes, approximately $141 to euthanize a cat vs. approximately $30 to apply a TNR principle. Just looking at the problem with feral cats today, it’s obvious that catch/kill does nothing to reduce the population which is why more communities are looking into TNR programs. Now be a good boy and do you homework before you comeback with another unintelligent retort.

[Cliff]

John, Someone should have put you in a bag and dumped you in bay long ago.

[Carol]

I'm sick and tired of people letting their cats roam free. We live in a big city, people, cats belong inside day and night and taken outside on leashes.

Where is PETA when we need them?

[cutter]

cheryl, ihave a still less costly way, its a called rat poison or a 22 cal.

[cutter]

Oh I forgot, anti freeze. Yjey simply love the sweet taste

[john]

PETA?? Ohhh,,,,People Eating Tasty Animals,,,too bad the antifreeze leaves them with an off taste

[Bob]

Chupacabra???

[Brian]

Dear short-bus Cheryl,

I assume you meant to say R-E-L-E-A-S-E and not R-E-A-L-E-A-S-E but what can you expect from someone who relies on Google as the end-all-be-all of knowledge. Even in your link to a St. Pete Times article states that according to Welch Agnew, assistant director of veterinary services for Pinellas Animal Services "...Agnew countered that he has never seen a scientific study proving the efficiency of such a program (TNR)in controlling cat population growth." You cited an article that disagreed with you point of view, good job.

While you are at it, try researching the history of the TNR program. It was formerly called Trap-Neuter-Release and had to change the name to "Return" because in accordance to state and federal laws the "release" of non-native species is illegal and punishishable by law. So they had to change the name; however, the re-abandonment of cats is still occuring. In fact, many national and international environmental organizations are in strong opposition to TNR programs.

$141 to end an animal's suffering and not prolong the senseless killing of native species is well worth it. How can you justify saving $111 (your figures) while encouraging the destruction of native species' population. Yes you can look it up, even on Google, free roaming cats cost millions in both dollars and lives!

[Sick of it all]

To "not the Marlboro Man": The decline of a society starts with the way that society treats it's children, then, yes, it goes up from there (actually, down...) NO life is sacred anymore. Shame...

[Pete]

Dogs take the heads off and leave the rest? Are you kidding me? Dogs go for the intestines first. What idiot decided that dogs take the heads? Get real.

[Belinda]

Keep your pets inside you moron!!!

Well said, Belinda.

[Cheryl]

Ok Brian, I agree with you. We can all go back to being friends. And to be honest, I do have a problem with the socialism aspect of TNR. Once you establish a socialistic society for the cats, next the dogs will want it, and before you know it the birds and the squirrels will want in on the action. We need to keep Socialism out of this country, who do the cats think they are trying to change our country!

Cheers!

[Jimbo]

Why are we letting them commie bast#@d cats get away with this. Everyone knows that pigs are smarter thatn dogs or cats. I gonna get me a pig!

[Carlton]

Monkeyface, what do you mean we are all animals. Bet you are won of them evolutionary crazies. We are people not animuls (maybe not you). Animals run around naked in the woods and they sometimes eat there own poo. People dont do that stuff. It just ain't right.

[Brian]

Cheryl, No, you are right. I just like causing trouble on these nameless faceless blogs. I can't play anymore since I've got to go back to finding a job. My unemployment is up and McDonald's down the street is hiring.

[Cheryl]

Wow..... ok people we are upseting Carlton. Lets just all settle down, it is Friday afterall. Carlton, usually I would just say "have a beer" and calm down; but with you, please avoid all alcoholic beverages (beer is considered alcohol). Go to your happy place but please spare us the details.

[Hombre]

Oh John, did Mommy and Daddy not show enough love when you were a child. Show me on the doll where they touched you.

[Keith]

Chinese Buffet!!!

[Brian]

Are there two Cheryls and Brians on this post? Or is the original Cheryl a little evil?

Cheryl, this is the Brian that DOES NOT AGREE with you. Are you typing in nameless faceless babble and pretending to be someone else?

We can agree that we disagree (probably on everything). Is McDonalds really hiring? I do need a job, my lawyer (1800lawyer) said I should file chapter 11. The part that stinks is that because I am such a slow reader, I am only up to chapter 4. I still have 7 more chapters to go.

Have a good weekend Cheryl.

[Robert]

GET A ROOM, YOU TWO.

What is everyone talking about. I thougt this was a story about cat cruelty?

[Brian]

Ok Cheryl, cut the crap. I have not responded since 3pm. Please have the fortitude to sign your own name when you make a statement.

[Cheryl]

What are you talking about? You are the one who is broke and looking for a job. I am just trying to protect the cats. I do not care if cats kill a couple of birds, birds are everywhere, a few less will not hurt anything. And just to be clear, I am a little hormonal this week but that is your problem to deal with not mine.

[DevilRayFan]

Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Media-Alert Message -

Legal question: Can we arrest the idiots above for being stupid? Stupid comments like those should not be tolerated.

[Brian]

Belinda, we need some more of your words of wisdom... we are awash in ignorance.

[Cheryl]

Why do we care about DevilRaysFan comments, aren't they in last place??

DRF, Are you the guy with the loud cowbell and green 'fro in center field??? Or just another one of the other faceless idiots in the crowd?

[Belinda]

STOP! Hombre, Brain, and Cheryl need to stop, Carlton and Monkeyface, you can join them too!!!

This is supposed to be a open environment to exchange ideas and comment or rebut articles and general ideas. We are not here to read about adults acting as children. My 5 year old knows how to behave better. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

[Don Mott]

If irresponsible cat owners didn't let their felines run free their would be no problem. I hope those dogs find my neighborhood and save me the cost of buying a trap.

[Tina]

To John: I'm also wondering..where did your parents touch you? You are pathetic and need to be evaluated, seriously.
To Cutter: You are also demented. Perhaps you've never been touched at all????
I say an eye for an eye to the sick, disturbed person or people who are doing this. A dog? I doubt it.

A dog is doing this ?????
Come on - get real, its either some sick twisted human being who has devised a new way to skin a cat or ..... ever seen the movie Predator ? Maybe they are really here, practicing on cats ......
At any rate, I'm staying away from Oriental restaurants in the Del Prado/Largo area...

[JK]

All you people are scary. Read all this insanity.

[Anne]

"Dogs take the heads off and leave the rest? " I live in rural Hillsborough county and found a rabbit in my yard that was missing its head. My vet told me that foxes will do this - and we have some in the neighborhood. I know there have been coyotes in Pinellas;is it possible that is what is killing the cats?

[Cheryl]

Anne, quit trying to give the coyotes a bad rap. Coyotes are excellent cat control for the un-lawful citizens of Pinellas County. If people really cared about their cats or cats in general they would not let them roam outdoors and would definitely not release them back outdoors after having them fixed.