Hunt for the cat killer

Mystery as 12 pets are slaughtered or kidnapped in quiet cul-de-sac

If one cat died from anti-freeze poisoning, it could be seen as a tragic accident.

But when nine from the same street passed away in distress after drinking the fluid, foul play was suspected.

Now pet owners in the peaceful cul-de-sac are too terrified to allow their animals out, fearing a sick-minded cat-killer is on the prowl.

Police and RSPCA inspectors have made inquiries at the 30 homes in the road but no one has been caught.

Retired carer Shirley Wilson, 61, whose pet, Fudge, died in April last year after being kicked, has printed warning posters which she has stuck to trees and lamp-posts along the road.

She said: ‘Some people hate cats with a vengeance, but how twisted must you be to use poison?

‘A vet carried out autopsies on four of them and diagnosed anti-freeze poisoning ... they definitely aren’t natural deaths.

'I have told the police and I'm putting up posters around the area. We don't want to point a finger but people need to be warned.

'Everyone is too scared to let their cats roam free now - my neighbours are keeping theirs indoors and I wouldn't risk getting another while I live here.'

Source: Daily Mail

Cat poison death alert

WORRIED vets have issued an urgent warning after a string of mystery pet poisonings which have already claimed the lives of three Doncaster cats.

Vets from the emergency out-of-hours clinic in Bawtry Road, Bessacarr, are urging owners in the area to keep their cats indoors until the problem has been resolved.

Molly is one of five cats believed to have swallowed anti-freeze in the Monks Close area of Dunscroft - and only two have survived.

Joanne first noticed Molly was not acting normally last Sunday morning because she would not eat her food, was walking in a ‘drunken’ manner and was twitching.

As soon as her husband returned home from work the couple took the cat to Vets Now, where the animal was put on a drip to try to get rid of toxins in her system and prevent further damage to her kidneys.

Molly was on a drip all night and is still undergoing tests to establish the extent of damage to her kidneys. If it is irreparable she will have to be put down.

Since the end of April the Vets Now Doncaster clinic has seen five cats from Monks Close, all showing signs of acute renal failure.

Only two of the cats could be saved thanks to intensive treatment primarily due to catching the symptoms early. .

Vets Now has contacted Doncaster Council and the RSPCA to alert them to the issue.

Laura McDermott, senior vet at Vets Now Doncaster, said: “Following investigations we have found out the most likely source of the poisonings is ethylene glycol.

“We would urge residents in the area to check their garages and gardens in case a leaking container has been left out in the open.”

“Where there is evidence an animal has been deliberately poisoned the RSPCA will look to prosecute those responsible.”

Source: The star

Mum suspects cat was poisoned

Claire Wheelaghan, Mother of two speaks of how devastated her daughter was by the suspected poisoning of their pet cat.

Within hours of returning home that evening, the grey tabby was dead.

He died at Green Pastures vets in Moor Lane, Weston, where nurse Holly Hartell remains optimistic that it may still be an accident, but confirmed he had swallowed a lethal amount of the substance.

The incident follows a number of similar poisonings last year, when cats from across the Weston area were consuming a lethal amount of antifreeze.

Claire, aged 45, says what has happened to Buddy has left her family shocked.

She said: “Buddy came in limping at tea time and he just wasn’t with it.

“By 10pm we realised we needed to take him to the vets and by 11.30pm he was dead.

“My 16-year-old daughter Lauren is devastated and my 18-year-old daughter Chelsea is fuming about it.

“It’s not cold enough to be using antifreeze and there was too much of it in Buddy’s body to be able to save him.

“Hooch, who came from the same litter as Buddy, is lost without him.”

Vets at Green Pastures say this is the first incident of antifreeze poisoning they have been aware of in about a year and are hopeful it may have been an accident.

Holly said: “Cats drink from puddles on driveways and I wonder if car radiators may leak and this is how it is happening.

“But we would ask people to keep an eye out for anyone acting strangely and report any incidents.

“Symptoms to be aware of will include vomiting and twitching, but it is unlikely a cat could be saved if has suffered antifreeze poisoning.”

Source: Weston Mercury

Hunt for cat poisoner

Animal welfare officers are hunting a cat poisoner after three pets in a Dundee street fell ill.

The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information after the cats were believed to have been poisoned by anti-freeze.

All three cats are from Mains Road in Dundee and one of the animals was put down after displaying symptoms of poisoning.

Scottish SPCA Inspector Robert Baldie said that the charity had also received reports of cats in the area going missing.

He added: "We have received reports that three cats in the area have been victims of poisoning and that others have gone missing.

"Sadly, one cat had to be put to sleep and a post mortem has confirmed that it died from anti-freeze poisoning.

"Two other cats have also shown symptoms consistent with poisoning. It is possible that the poisonings could be accidental so we would ask motorists to ensure that anti-freeze is stored carefully to avoid leaks or spillages.

"However, it may be that these poisonings have been deliberate, which is a real cause for concern. Poisoning causes an animal an extremely painful death so we would advise cat owners in the area to be vigilant and report anything suspicious."

Anyone found guilty of deliberately poisoning an animal can face a jail sentence, a fine of up to £20,000, or both.

If you have information regarding the poisonings, you should call the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.

Source: STV