((DALLAS, TX); July 18, 2018– Yesterday, the SPCA of Texas filed a charge of Cruelty to Non-Livestock Animals (causing serious bodily injury to animal), a third-degree felony, against the individual who shot a cat to death in April, 2018.

On April 12, 2018, the owner of the cat in Southeast Dallas heard a gunshot, and shortly after, found their cat bleeding in the street with what appeared to be a gunshot. The owner asked a neighbor about the incident, and the neighbor admitted to owning a .22 caliber rifle, but denied shooting the cat. After further conversation between the owner and neigbor, the neighbor admitted to shooting the cat and the owner called the Dallas Police Department, who dispatched crime scene technicians and opened an animal cruelty case.

The next day, April 13, 2018, the Dallas Police Department forwarded the case to the SPCA of Texas pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding between the SPCA of Texas and the Dallas Police Department designed to help bring perpetrators of animal cruelty to justice. The deceased cat was transferred to the SPCA of Texas and a necropsy was performed to determine cause of death. The result of the necropsy indicated the cause of death was a high-velocity, small caliber round discharged from a firearm. The suspect was located and identified. Multiple witnesses and the suspect were interviewed. The evidence gathered provided enough credible evidence to file a prosecution packet with the Dallas County District Attorney's Office. The case will be presented to a Grand Jury, who will determine if an indictment will be filed.

The SPCA of Texas points out that animal cruelty is often an early warning sign of violent tendencies that will be acted out against people. Childhood cruelty to animals has been linked to later antisocial and aggressive behavior in several retrospective studies. The SPCA of Texas is committed to stopping this cycle through maintaining an active Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit that responds to reports of abuse and neglect in seven North Texas counties, through working with partners to help strengthen animal cruelty laws, by encouraging the community to get involved in their local and state government to advocate for animals and by encouraging individuals to report all suspected animal cruelty to their local law enforcement agency and the SPCA of Texas. To report suspected cruelty or abuse to the SPCA of Texas, call 214-742-SPCA (7722) or visit www.spca.org/abuse.