BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — Officials in Burke County are investigating a case of animal cruelty after as many as 17 cats were either found shot, poisoned or hung up on a fence Friday in Connelly Springs.
Only nine cats survived after what many described as the worst case of animal cruelty they've ever seen.
Rena Rikard and Lisa Tessener discovered the cats abandoned along Roger Hill Road. She said the two of them scrambled to get help after finding the animals.
"I just don't understand how anyone could do this to a helpless animal," Rikard said.
"We climbed up and down the embankments by the river, the creek there, getting the animals howling in pain," Tessener said.
Some of the cats ended up in the care of Dr. EJ Kennedy, who said not only were some of the cats shot but some were also poisoned.
"No matter how you slice this, it is cruelty to animals," Kennedy said. "They are obviously domesticated. They are very friendly and approachable and whoever did this could have done it without the cats running away."
Deputies said they are looking for a silver or black truck with animal cages in the back. It was spotted near where the cats were abandoned and then later shot.
Channel 9 spotted at least one cat Tuesday afternoon still in the woods. Two men were trying to get it to safety before whoever is responsible returns.
"Anybody who shoots an animal, a defenseless animal, out to be locked up for life," resident Johnny Woodruff said.
Two of the surviving cats were taken to Burke County Animal Control. There are several animal rescue groups in Burke County trying to help the other cats.
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