Mutilated cat found in yard

A west-end family is reeling after discovering their mutilated cat tossed in a garbage can in a residential yard near an elementary school.

City police and forensic units were called to the grim find, at 190 Street and 70 Avenue, at dinnertime Tuesday.

"I was very upset. I broke down," said the cat owner, who asked not to be named.

The cat went missing Monday night after it was allowed out of the house. The next morning, an area resident found six-year-old Tia dead and being picked at by crows. He decided to put it into the garbage can.

The whole family was devastated by the loss of the white and grey cat, said the owner.

"We've responded to these types of calls over the past couple of years," said police spokesman Karen Carlson.

"(Officers) want to be able to collect as much information as possible to see if this is connected to the others."

Last summer, there were 17 cat mutilation cases in Edmonton, which prompted formation of a feline task force.

City police, City Parks, Alberta Fish and Wildlife, Edmonton bylaw, Alberta SPCA, and Mounties from St. Albert and Strathcona County are part of the task force.

In St. Albert, where there were another two reported cases, police said they suspected someone had been slaying the cats before dumping them near Muriel Martin school last August.

Earlier this year in Edmonton, a cat was found cut in half near another west-end school. In July, another mutilated feline was discovered near University Avenue.

The latest attack left an official with the Edmonton Humane Society urging pet owners to keep a close watch on their animals.

"If it all possible, please keep your cats indoors," Shawna Randolph said.

"We can't stress enough the importance of pet owners doing this. It's in the best interest of the animal."

She said it is also crucial to ensure pets are properly identified, which could increase the odds of happy reunions for lost four-legged pals.

The society is made aware of cat mutilations, but Randolph said she isn't familiar with any other felines being tortured and killed recently.

However, she was aware of Tuesday's discovery.

"It's disturbing," Randolph said. "Studies have proven that people who do harm to animals sometimes go the next step and target humans.

"That's another reason why it should be taken seriously whenever we hear about any abuse to an animal."

Last week, two Camrose teens who admitted to breaking into a neighbour's house and microwaving the family cat were sentenced to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service.