By Lily Tran
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A bizarre and disturbing case of animal cruelty north of Toronto is being investigated in Whitchurch-Stouffville.
York Regional Police are investigating after six cat heads were found in a one kilometre radius of each other in a residential area.
The heads were found between Aug. 12 and Sept. 13. All were found in public areas, with one in the vicinity of a daycare.
Const. Andy Pattenden with the York Regional Police said he was struck by the case’s unusual circumstances.
“The six similar type incidents are all bizarre in nature. It’s not often that you would just find the head of animal like that with no signs of blood or anything else,” he said.
Pattenden said police are certain it is not predatory animal causing the harm to the cats.
Troubling Timeline
“What’s alarming about this case is that the number of cats harmed in such a short period of time, all of them with the same sort of profile with finding only the head,” said Brad Dewar, an agent with the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
“It would appear that the head was being placed by someone. It doesn’t appear that the head is what’s left from an animal attack or even a motor vehicle incident.”
Although the last head was found on Sept. 13, the Ontario SPCA was not contacted until later in the month.
“Each case that had happened either animal control or city by-law department was involved with it. It hadn’t been brought to our attention until Sept. 26,” Agent Dewar said.
Looking for Leads
Pattenden said the York Regional Police are working in partnership with the Ontario SPCA, the Stouffville by-law department and Georgina Township Animal Control.
“There are currently no leads in the investigation. York Region police say they are appealing to the public for information about missing pets or animals that have disappeared recently,” Pattenden said.
“At this point, keep your pets indoors and safe. Keep your eyes open for signs of animals that are dead and are not road kill.”