Dallas PD, SPCA Notice "Disturbing Trend" in Cat Killings; Offer Reward In the Latest Case

By Robert Wilonsky Thu., Apr. 14 2011 at 10:25 AM

Categories: Crime

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You may recall: Back in the summer of '09, there was a rash of cat killing across the city, with the animals often sliced in half and left in front yards. Dallas Police Department spokesman Senior Corporal Kevin Janse tells Unfair Park this morning those slayings went unsolved, which troubles the department: "Who's to say those harming animals aren't doing the same to humans?" Janse says the department has also noticed "a very disturbing trend" in recent years, as "there does seem to be an uptick in the number of cases we've seen."

Like, for instance, the cat killing reported to police on March 29, when a man who lives near Skillman and McCommas came home from a three-day trip and found his cat "cleanly severed in half" in a neighbor's yard. Police say a similar incident was reported that week near 2200 Cedar Springs, not far from the Crescent.

Which is why, this morning, the DPD, the SPCA of Texas and Dallas Animal Services are offering $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible. Says the department's release, what better than than Animal Cruelty Prevention Month to once again highlight the rash of "horrific" crimes? From the release:

Dallas Animal Services regularly monitors animal cruelty cases and has noticed a trend over the past few years that each spring, more cats are found mutilated in Northeast Dallas. Each time a citizen reports this frightening type of animal cruelty to the Dallas Police Dept., Dallas Animal Services then assists the Dallas Police Dept., who conducts the investigations, to track down the perpetrator(s).

"There is a well-documented link between animal cruelty and human violence." said SPCA of Texas President James Bias. "Helping the Dallas Police Dept. bring these individuals to justice will help stop the cycle of abuse."

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http://www.zolas.info that cat was on dallas news and talks that cat needs to have a talk show really grin.
cats need their own yards and in texas even people are not safe for the further south the more it is like a horror movie inbred or something grin. All our cats were trained to stay in the yard and we lived in kcmo then not dallas so it was safer. Never heard of cats that die at 5 or 10 years for that is insane. Ours all lived to be at least 20 years one was even 29 in human years and daily went out to run in the yard.
Interesting theory, but actually one way you can differentiate between a crazy killer and a sane one is only a reall mentally ill one will do things right out in the open. And a serial killer who isn't technically insane will often leave a body displayed to shock people. It's very common. Many of the reports sound like someone is severing these cats in half with a machete or something. There is nothing in nature that will duplicate that. This is a human, a very dangerous sick sadistic human who is probably not over 25.
Even if one cat's remains were found in a mailbox, that does not mean there is a "rash of cat killing" or serial "cat mutilations." All it means is that some cruel person picked up one cat's remains and put it in the mailbox. Coyotes and foxes slice cats cleanly in half with a right claw. There is video on YouTube showing how they do it. Every "cat mutilation" hoax nationwide has turned out to be the work of animal predators.
I seriously doubt that a human did this. I agree with Bud Kennedy. A crazy person wouldn't leave leave the body in the front yard. A predatory animal, however, would eat all of the soft, juicy parts, and take a nap when it gets full. Nature at work.
This is the work of a coyote or fox. Folks, please read about similar cases in deCordova and other cities nationwide -- Until you have reason to suspect a human -- for example, remains found in a mailbox or under a windshield wiper or somewhere only a human could go -- then always suspect predators.
My biggest objection to it is that the cats are unable to use so many of their centuries-old instincts, which is about all they're programmed to do, and I don't see how that can be good for them as individuals or as a species. Certainly it is not possible or prudent to let a cat out by a busy street or unneutered, although I will say mine came from a busy street and had adapted to it when I found her, as some do before they become pavement paste, but I quickly moved houses when I got her to a quiet street. I have seen house cats perfectly content and others that are so frustrated they are very very neurotic. At the zoo, they taught you how to look for those signs, and many house cats exhibit them. Of course, mine has her freedom, and she's still a little psycho sometimes. At least the dogs think so.
ah..but there is no hell...i learned that on the inter-web today
At least your cat tries. The only thing my cat does is ask me for the car keys, drinks all my beer, and then calls me the worst owner in the world when I tell him he can't stay over at his friends place (the friends a bit too feral for my liking and I don't want him rubbing off on my Mr. Fiskers in the wrong way, ya know?).
I stand corrected dear sir. I tip my hat to you!
Yes, you're paraphrasing. The exact quote was, "The character of a nation is defined by whether the occasional outlier lunatic slices domestic pets cleanly in half."
Lots of sunshine comes in through windows, too. I never met a cat that didn't like to sunbathe. I wont dispute that its not entirely natural, but I don't think you can call a modern urban environment completely natural, either.
My cat talks mostly politics, and I just tune him out. It's sad, he used to be quite the free thinker, but now he just parrots Fox News talking points and gets really mad if I refute him. This is not a stupid cat -- I blame myself for keeping him indoors. He's now an old, white cat.
Somebody "liked" that? Wow.
Has there also been a rise in the DVD/Netflix rental of Harmony Korine's kitty classic "Gummo"?
As for keeping all cats indoors, most cats will not thank you for it. No animal should be kept indoors without sunshine their whole life. But some cats adapt. It's totally unnatural, and you wouldn't keep your teenage daughter confined indoors just because she'd be physically safer there than out running around or dating. (or maybe you would - I know most of us are tempted). We also have to consider the psychological aspect, which is usually overlooked in pets in favor of what is easy for the pet owner. Just a thought. Also, indoor/outdoor animals should all be monitored. I think that is key. You bring them in in extreme weather and you listen for problems, like with cats, another cat trying to take their territory, and you address those problems. My indoor/outdoor cat is 17 and still going strong, but I watch her a lot more than most people do, neuter strays when possible, and entice her to stay very close to home by creating attractions, and run off rivals as necessary, and I ALWAYS bring her in at night, which I think makes a world of difference. Cats seem to get in more trouble at night. She has not been out overnight once. I went through training on cats at the zoo, so I am not talking out of my ***, though you are free to think so.
Well, thank god they police are finally doing something. People were blogging about this two years ago and I went to the police station and was told no one had filed a complaint and acted like it was the first they'd heard about it, but several bloggers had previously stated they had called them about it. I personally delivered the blogs to them about it. At that time, there was a path if you followed the reported incidents, that started in Richardson and moved toward central/east Dallas. This psycho is VERY dangerous and probably not just to cats, but that's enough. I hope someone will come forward.
Sadly, like the famous Michigan J. Frog, he won't do it in front of anybody but me.
Your cat talks! Man, you need to go on the talk show circuit. You've got a goldmine!
This is truly disturbing...I think it was Ghandi(???) who said,"you can tell the character of a nation's people by how they treat their animals". I'm probably paraphrasing, but the message is clear.
I agree for the most part. However, my cat is one I took in as a stray, and he'll tear the house to shreds if I don't let him outside once in a while, even though he's quite neutered. He probably won't live as long as an indoor cat (despite the fact that I've observed him looking both ways before crossing the street). But when asked, he'll tell you he'd rather have 5 years of fun than 20 years of looking out the window.
Where's Dexter when you need him?
Absolutely The average lifespan of cats who go outside is about 5 years My 20 yr old indoor cat thanks me every day for the extra 15 yrs of life he has enjoyed through our decision to keep him in. He doesn't get to chase squirrels or birds, but neither does he get in fights with other cats, crushed by the wheels of a car, or sliced in half by some psychopath-in-the-making.
I hope whoever is doing this burns in Hell, where he is sliced in half slowly on a daily basis.
Once again, people need to keep their cats indoors and their dogs confined in their yards. It is for the animal's safety, not your convenience.
wow...people are strange...as Jim Morrison said...
so sad....my cat went missing yesterday, but I"m happy to say he's back with me this morning...
There were several in my neighborhood -- in fact, one of those cats killed belonged to the family across the streets, whose pet was sliced in half and left in my next-door neighbor's yard, where it was discovered by an early-morning walker. Gruesome. Another was also left in a neighbor's mailbox.
I was just wondering the other day if they ever solved the killings from a couple of years back, which if I recall, was out in Robert's neck of the woods. Skillman and McCommas is a little too close to home - I'm going to try really hard to convince my cat that inside is where it's at, because he certainly doesn't seem to think so.