Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / SOMERSET
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

10:09 GMT, Tuesday, 14 October 2008 11:09 UK

Reward to catch killer of 28 cats

Cat

A £1,000 reward has been offered by an animal welfare group to catch a cat killer who has poisoned at least 28 animals in Somerset.

It is thought anti-freeze has been used to poison at least nine cats found dead in Weston-super-Mare.

Six of the animals came from the same street on the Bournville housing estate.

The reward has been put up by the charity People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta).

Suzanne Barnard, from Peta, said animals were the perfect "practice" victims for violent people.

"Research in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit acts of cruelty to animals often go on to commit violent acts against their fellow humans," she said.

Ms Barnard added that other animals in the area would be in danger "as long as the perpetrators of this crime are at large".

Between April and August, 19 cats in Bridgwater have died after suffering vomiting, diarrhoea, fits and kidney failure.

It is thought the animals ingested ethylene glycol, a constituent of anti-freeze.

Last month Avon and Somerset Police and the RSPCA launched a joint investigation.

Police are awaiting the outcome of post-mortem examinations to determine the exact cause of deaths.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Cat poisoning fear in Somerset (03 Oct 08 |  Newsbeat )
Anti-freeze cat poisoner sought (07 Aug 08 |  Somerset )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
PETA
Avon and Somerset Police
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©