Rich Square native calls for end to animal abuse

by Todd Wetherington, Daily Herald Staff Writer
Published/Last Modified on Friday, June 12, 2009 2:32 PM EDT

RICH SQUARE — The pictures tell the story: Photo after photo showing cats with blood-encrusted wounds, the hair burnt from their bodies in small, circular-shaped patterns. In one of the more graphic items, a lifeless, yellow tabby is splayed on a white trash bag, the mouth held open to show the internal damage which caused its death.

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The cat in the photo once belonged to Myrna Perry, who for the last three years has been documenting what she believes to be the systematic killing of stray and domesticated cats in the neighborhood surrounding her home on Jackson Street in Rich Square.

“I like animals,” Perry said recently, discussing the incidents. “ I want the shooting stopped.”

Perry claims the animals are being injured by high-powered air rifles. Some of them, she said, are lured into the crosshairs with food. Since the shootings started three years ago, three of her own cats have been killed.

Though Perry believes she knows who is responsible, she has no direct proof linking anyone to the animal abuse, a situation which has left her both frustrated and scared. “It’s a lot of stress to live under. You walk out the door and you don’t know if someone’s going to shoot. I don’t have an answer.”

Asked why she believes the cats are being targeted, Perry offered a simple explanation. “They’re just mean people.”

Having spoken to Northampton County Animal Cruelty Investigator Karen Cole and Rich Square Police Chief A.B. Roye, Perry believes her complaints have yet to be taken seriously. “The county officials are not doing their jobs,” she said. “I showed them surveillance tapes I made, but they haven’t done anything. I don’t know where to go. The police chief showed me the ordinance that says you can’t shoot in town. If these people can’t uphold the law, they don’t need the job, let them go do something else.”

Reached for comment, both Cole and Roye said they have investigated Perry’s allegations, but due to insufficient evidence, they are unable to bring charges against the suspected parties. “I wish I could do something for her, I really do,” said Cole. “I’ve seen the cats and they probably are getting shot, but without evidence of who’s doing it, what can I do?”

Cole said the images she viewed on the surveillance tape were inconclusive. “You can see someone shooting but you can’t see who it is or what they’re shooting at. Without evidence there’s no reason to take this to court and tie up the system.”

“There’s no proof they’re shooting cats,” stated Roye. “She showed me some pictures, but I couldn’t say for certain they were shot, it could have been dogs. We’ve done surveillance, she’s done surveillance. She wants me to be Superman and pull evidence out of my hat, but I can’t prosecute without probable cause.”

While the stray cat population has become an increasing problem in the area, both Cole and Royce agreed that harming the animals is no solution. “The cats are breeding, they’re wild, they’re just too many of them,” said Cole. “She (Perry) could take out a cruelty to animals warrant just as easily as I could. I agree, they shouldn’t be shot like that.”

Cole said, ultimately, responsibility for dealing with the incidents falls to local authorities, not the county. “We went before the town board a month ago and told them this is their problem, this falls within the city’s jurisdiction.”

For now, Perry said she sees little hope of resolving the situation. “I’m not the law; I can’t do anything. The chief told me he was going to try to get PETA in here, and I hope he does. These people just deny everything and then, once the police are gone, they start shooting again.”

By bringing the shootings to light, Perry said she hopes to at least shame the culprits into complying with the law. “I want public opinion to take care of this. I’m an animal lover and this is no way to treat an animal.”

Copyright © 2009 Roanoke Daily Herald

Comments

    lynn in Northampton county wrote on Jun 21, 2009 5:40 AM:

    " surely there have been more comment's on this subject of cat killings in Rich Square than posted ? maybe takin' it to the streets would get more attention than the local news agency? how about Nancy Grace or Robin Meade. Ellen Degeneres is one animal rights activist among several that would be outraged as well. I doubt this will be posted. hush hush. "

    animal lover wrote on Jun 19, 2009 4:27 PM:

    " Wake up people...something needs to be done about this. Can't the authorities do anything? What if it was your pet? "

    Lack of Proof wrote on Jun 18, 2009 9:34 AM:

    " It seems that Mrs. Perry knows who is doing this without the proof, and without the proof she has found someone guietly and that is not right. It was stated from Chief Roye it could be another animal. I think that Mrs. Perry has gone a little to far with all this. I myself love animals and don't want to see anyone are anything harm them, but it seems like she is not able to care for them and someone should remove them and maybe that will solve alot of the problem. "

    Danielle wrote on Jun 16, 2009 3:07 AM:

    " Hello, my name is Danielle but everyone calls me Dani, I am 10 years old, my granny read the story about the bad people to me because I love my cats, dogs, and one bird. I really want a rabbit but my granny says maybe next year. I cried and cried when she read it because I love all animals. When I grow up I want to be a pet doctor or a police woman so I can put all people in jail that hurt pets. This is the first time I ever wrote something for the paper so I'm glad for spell check. I hope the lady that cat got dead reads this so she will know I am sorry. "

    luvmy6catz wrote on Jun 16, 2009 2:45 AM:

    " I believe the problem concerning the killing of the cats will not stop until someone cares enough to stop it.Each division is passing it on. I refuse to believe a dog can burn circular holes in a cats fur unless it has been taught to smoke and light a cigarette. I also refuse to believe a dog can splay a cat on a plastic bag with it's mouth open to show how it killed the cat. If these animals were on their land or close to it, there is your probable cause. It shouldn't be very hard to catch them because people of this caliber don't have a very high IQ. If they are using high powered air rifles in the city limits someone has to hear them. There is a ordinance that no one fires these in the city limits, there is more probable cause. I'm sure a search warrant would turn up more probable cause. In closing I have one more thing to say and I hope the Herald doesn't consider it breaking a rule.
    These (Whatever they are)would Make My Day if they ever touched a hair on one of my cats heads. "

    single dad wrote on Jun 15, 2009 11:06 PM:

    " I hope that the proper officials will lend a hand and help Mrs. Perry to save the life of her pets. "

    Sarah wrote on Jun 15, 2009 12:17 PM:

    " "It could have been dogs". So you are saying you don't have sense enough to look and see if they have dog bites or bullet wounds? "

    Jeanette wrote on Jun 15, 2009 1:26 AM:

    " If my memory is correct most of the animal cruelty issues I have read about have been in Northampton County. This is a sad situation. These animal killers probably have small children in the home witnessing what they are doing. What kind of role models can they be. I live in Roanoke Rapids and have called Animal control on several occasions. I always called concerning mistreatment of an animal, the problem was taken care of quickly. "

    Animal Advocate wrote on Jun 15, 2009 12:37 AM:

    " I have spent a lot of money on animals that were hurt by others. There is no way I could stand by and see an animal hurt or hungry. The person or persons that tortured those innocent cats need some serious mental help. The type of person that would do that to an animal probably would do the same or worse to a human. I don't think anyone in a position of authority in Northampton County gives a rip about animals. Have they ever heard of surveillance or is it too expensive? I will gladly volunteer my services. "

    a respecter of an animal life wrote on Jun 13, 2009 3:29 PM:

    " Jeffery Dahmer started out killing animals to satisfy his sick need then moved on to humans. the responsibility to catch this sadistic male should fall on the shoulders of anyone concerned. I don't know of but one police officer in NH county that cares. it seems the public officals that are aware of these cat killngs are complacent..or want to pass the buck. I hope the Daily Herald will post my comment. "

    A SINGLE MOM wrote on Jun 13, 2009 12:43 AM:

    " They do not want to tie up the system for innocent animals , but yet, Dss in Halifax can make a single mother take off work to go to court so she can testify on where her x-husband is so they can make him pay Child Support. That does not have to go to court, that can be done in the office, and that is their job anyway! That is what they are suppose to get paid for. Maybe if they paid them less or for what they actually do then the state will save a lot of money........ "

    Catherine wrote on Jun 13, 2009 12:26 AM:

    " This world needs a lot more people like Myrna Perry, she has a heart. When sub human people do these atrocities to animals they lack a conscience. I sincerely hope there is a place in Hades
    reserved for them since I believe praying for someone without a conscience is a waste of breath.

    I doubt if the Herald will print this although I can't see where it violates their rules. "

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