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We advocate on all animal protection and exploitation issues, including experimentation, factory farming, rodeos, breeders and traveling animal acts.

Animal Defenders of Westchester
P.O. Box 205
Yonkers, NY 10704

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 10, 2013

CONTACT:
Kiley Blackman  
[email protected]
www.adow.org   

TO CATCH A CAT KILLER, ACTIVISTS JOIN WITH SPCA TO OFFER REWARD

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY    
MAY 10, 2013  Animal Defenders of Westchester (www.adow.org) has teamed with the Westchester County SPCA by offering a $1000. reward for capture of person/s suspected of poisoning cats in Yonkers recently. The information  would have to lead to a sworn statement that leads to an arrest in order to be eligible for the reward. The SPCA Cruelty Hotline phone number will be listed on flyers, websites, etc.  

On March 18, local media reported the suspicious deaths of three neighborhood felines, followed by two others who died shortly after being found disoriented and unable to stand.  Ten other cats have disappeared from the area as well. The cats had been in the neighborhood for years, watched over and fed by residents.  Tests on one of the cats resulted in no sign of rabies or organ damage; however the animal's behavior was consistent with that of having ingested rat poison.  Thereafter began a concerted attempt by Yonkers police and the SPCA to find who might be killing these cats that died under such suspicious circumstances, with others providing rescue and neuter services for the remaining cats in the area as well.  

Central Animal Hospital in Scarsdale,  listed by Westchester Magazine as having seven of the leading veterinarians in the county.  graciously provided spay/neuter services and medical care for eight of the surviving cats at a reduced rate. They also provided benevolent, kind care and treatment for the first four cats who appeared to have been poisoned.  'Intentionally abusing animals for any reason is repugnant. Every state has laws in place to hold people accountable for animal cruelty,' asserts Dr. Michael Woltz, the clinic's director. ' I can only hope this person or these people are caught and can learn through education and psychological support to understand that harming helpless animals is unacceptable human behavior.'   

Kiley Blackman, founder of Animal Defenders of Westchester, agrees.  'How can you do something so cruel to a little animal who doesn't harm anyone and walks around minding her own business? Any creep with a grudge thinks they can get away with hurting animals, children, those who can't defend themselves...but you will be found.  Studies show that those who harm animals are likely to harm people as well.  You will be caught.'

ADOW member Kim Gold, who is assisting with the spay/neuter effort, adds, '"Poisoning cats leads to a slow, agonizing death. This is a family neighborhood directly next to a playground with children, pets, and wildlife. There is a real possibility that children or pets can come in contact with a lethal poison. Whoever is doing this presents a real danger to the community."