People in a Somerset neighborhood are concerned about their pet's safety

By: Phil Pendleton - Email

Updated: Thu 9:12 PM, Sep 13, 2012

Somerset, Ky. (WYMT) - Angie Girdler loves cats. She has 10 cats and she says she rescues them off the street.

“I spay and neuter them and try to be responsible.There’s not any cat laws…a cat should be able to go outside and play,” said the Somerset woman Thursday.

Yet she and other neighbors on Sagassar Street believe someone may be poisoning them. And she says the recent death of her beloved “Smokey” backs up her allegation.

“He (the vet) said the chemical that is in antifreeze..is off the charts. Just so high. His (the cat's) kidneys had already swelled and everything,” she said of the condition that proved fatal for her cat.

Police say as of now they have only received a couple of complaints but they say if someone is intentionally poisoning these animals, it could fall under a felony offense.

“We are certainly going to look into it. And see what we can find out. Our goal is to stop what is going on,” said Lt. Det. Shannon Smith of Somerset Police.

Another man who lives nearby who didn’t want to go on camera says he’s lost 6 cats. A local veterinarian claims he’s treated at least 10 for similar symptoms.

Police say as of now Girdler is the only one in the process of making a formal complaint about the issue.

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