Posted on 09/08/2016 1:59:43 AM PDT by Red Badger
ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) – A dozen neighborhood cats have recently died or disappeared in downtown Arlington, and many business owners are turning to police for help because they suspect foul play.
“These cats of Main Street had a home,” said Sarah Hughes, who works nearby.
A long row of white crosses covers two streets along Main Street in Arlington. Each cross represents a feral cat that has either gone missing or has been found dead in recent weeks. Hughes stopped next to a cross with the word “missing” crossed out. It has been replaced with “R.I.P.”
“This was one of our missing momma cats,” Hughes explained. “We found her deceased under one of these businesses.”
For more than a decade, the community of business owners and employees along Main Street has cared for the colony of feral cats that call the area home. They make sure that the cats have plenty of food and water. And, through its trap-neuter-return program, the Friends of Arlington Animal Shelter has also ensured that the cats are vaccinated and spayed or neutered.
Hughes said that the cats even provide a service to their community — helping keep the rodent population down.
But, in the past two weeks, the cats have stopped coming around to their food bowls. Neighbors have reported finding a dozen of them dead, and many more missing. Suspecting foul play, one business owner filed a police report.
Neighbors said that threats had previously been made by someone in the community. Hughes said, “Something to the effect of ‘What would you do if your cats came up missing or dead?'”
Neighbors also noticed that the food in their cat bowls had recently been switched out. It may have been tampered with. “I’m pretty sure they’re poisoning them. Either putting rat poison or antifreeze — which is really easy to get,” Hughes said.
With less than a handful of cats left — perhaps just two — the group who cares for them is afraid that they will continue having to add crosses to an already long row on Main Street.
“Why would someone even do that? I mean, they weren’t bothering anybody,” Hughes said. “They’re well taken care of.”
This community of downtown Arlington neighbors has started a GoFundMe page to help raise money for a large reward. It is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of whoever is responsible for killing the cats. CBS 11 News is also waiting to hear back from the Arlington Police Department regarding this case.
#CatLivesMatter
(dogs, not so much)
I live in Arlington and whatever the number is for the missing ‘cats’ is just...a good start!
Any Thai restaurants nearby?
Feral cats + free food = more feral cats.
Spay, neuter and euthanize.
The article says these cats were sterilized, vaccinated and fed.
They were neutered, vaccinated and fed.
As someone posted earlier: "Animals first and then people".
It is a sign of wicked days in which we live. People here on FR are smart enough to "connect the dots" and come up with the probable reason and motive for why this is taking place, however: Notice how innocuous the title of the article is purposely worded in order to not disturb the masses or give them a clue as to why this is likely happening:
"Foul Play Suspected As Cats Dissappear in Arlington".
Foul play?
Oh, so the birds are getting revenge on the cats.
Always love the jokes associated with missing pets and restaurants.
LOL!
I have been suspecting that here the past few days. I have had a beautiful stray cat visiting my backyard garden area nearly all summer. I have been feeding her several times a day. In fact it had come to the point that she would sit and wait for me. She would be there at 5am in the morning or earlier sometimes snoozing on one of the garden chairs...she’d stay all morning long until the heat of the day set in. Then she’d be back around 6pm...and I believe she stayed all night in the backyard. I had even set up several dens for her to use.
Just after Labor Day she didn’t come. Neither have the raccoons or opossum. I believe someone poisoned them likely using cat food as bait. We live on the edge of a park system and have critters all the time in the yards. Raccoons, opossums, fox, feral cats, displaced cats that get dumped, etc.
At this point I don’t know what to do, I am surprisingly upset and until a body is found ...well there’s not a lot to do. I have my suspicion who did it as they are citified renters and have complained all summer long about the raccoons living under the other neighbor’s deck. Someone complained to them about their dogs incessant barking when no one is home, ended up involving the police.
My gut instinct is he was or is leaving poison out for the critters.
This little gal was destined this week to be trapped and if domestic, which I believe she was, headed to the shelter for adoption.
They are spayed and neutered............
Did you not read the title?................
Why is a teacher driving a Corvette?................
That, or Korean...........................
I dont care if the feral cats,or owned cats are neutered, vaccinated and fed,they still crap in my yard,kill chipmunks and song birds,yowl outside my window.Keep your cats inside your own house or on a chain in your own yard.I dont want em in my yard.
A lot of people fighting to save the kitties ask the same question.
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