Dare County, N.C. – Several online petitions have been initiated over the last several months, alleging multiple cases of animal abuse at a feral cat colony in the Frisco Community on Hatteras Island, according to Chief Deputy Steve Hoggard of the Dare County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff J.D. “Doug” Doughtie issued the following statement:
“Over the last several months, at least three petitions have been started and posted online alleging that several cats have been killed on Hatteras Island. One of these petitions is entitled: HATTERAS, NC – LIVE KITTENS THROWN INTO THE AIR AND SHOT. OTHERS DROWNED.”
“The Dare County Sheriff’s Office has never received any complaints regarding kittens being thrown into the air and shot, or being drowned. The records have been checked, and no such report has been taken. From October 28, 2014, through January 15, 2015, the petition alleges that eight cats have been killed. During this time, the Sheriff’s Office has received approximately ten reports from the individual that authored the petitions. Only one of these complaints involved a cat that had died. This cat was turned over to our office and a necropsy was performed to determine if the cat had been poisoned as was reported to us and on the petition. The results of the necropsy could not confirm that the cat was poisoned. The necropsy was performed by the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System. We were not informed of any additional bodies of cats that supposedly were killed or died mysteriously. We certainly would have performed additional necropsies had other bodies been pointed out to our office. We have been provided no additional evidence, body or otherwise, to indicate that other cats have gone missing. The author of the petition is the only person that is supposed to know how many cats there are in that particular area, and if any are missing or not. Again, there has been no item of evidence, a witness, or a body to corroborate such an allegation.”
Check back on WTKR.com for updates as we follow this story.
