PRESS RELEASE

TWO ANIMALS FOUND DEAD IN MID-CITY AREA:

LA/SPCA SEEKING INFORMATION IN SUSPECTED ANIMAL CRUELTY

New Orleans, LA (3/07/2008) – Louisiana SPCA humane officers are seeking any information from the public in two separate incidents of suspected animal cruelty. On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 5, LA/SPCA officers were dispatched to the corner of Orleans Avenue and Moss Street, where they found a dead cat inside a pillow case, enclosed in a blue bowling bag. A brick was also contained in the bowling bag, which was found near the Bayou St. John Canal.

On Thursday, March 6, LA/SPCA officers were again dispatched to the same vicinity, this time at the corner of Dumaine and Moss Streets. In this incident, officers found a deceased toy poodle, male with a white coat, floating in the Bayou St. John Canal.

In the first case, the cat, a female with a white coat, black tail and two black spots covering the top of her head, was found with an IV catheter in her front left leg held in place with medical tape. Upon examination by LA/SPCA Veterinarian Dr. Charles Jennings, it appears that the cat was approximately 8-10 years old and had been dead for two to three days. The cat also had no front teeth.

A second search of the bayou led to the discovery of more bricks that presumably came from the bowling bag containing the cat. Due to the decomposition of the body an examination was unable to determine an exact cause of death. However, due to the presence of the bricks it's believed that the cat was drowned. Additionally, because of the IV catheter it's evident that the cat received recent vet care. LA/SPCA officers are checking with all veterinary clinics for any information.

In the case involving the toy poodle, a medical examination revealed that the poodle was approximately 3-5 years old and had been dead for less than 24 hours, but cause of death is currently undetermined. The poodle had short curly hair, a docked tail and folded ears. Based on his coat and tail, Jennings also estimates that the dog had been groomed within the last six weeks.

The poodle has been sent to LSU Veterinarian School of Medicine in Baton Rouge for a necropsy to determine cause of death. Both animals were also scanned for microchips, but none were found.

“That someone would take the deliberate action of placing an animal in a pillow case and bowling bag, and weighing it down with bricks is extremely disturbing and upsetting,” said Kathryn Destreza, Director of Humane Law Enforcement. “We can only hope that the animal was not alive at the time. Taking such deliberate steps to dispose of an animal this way, in any condition, is cruel and unacceptable.”

LA/SPCA officers are seeking any information to aid in the investigations. They are hoping that someone may have seen or observed any activity in the Bayou St. John area where the animals were found. While the LA/SPCA has no evidence that the two cases are linked, they note that the animals were found a block apart. LA/SPCA officers are also investigating recent reports of stolen animals in the Mid-City area

If you have any information about these two cases or the identity of these two animals; or if you may have seen suspicious activity in the Bayou St. John area where the animals were found, the public is urged to contact the LA/SPCA at 504-368-5191 ext. 100.

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