Brutal Cat Slayings ~ Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.

THE FAIRFIELD LEDGER - Monday, March 10, 1997

Brutal cat killings at Noah's Ark stun local, state animal protection groups

By Beth Dalbey, Ledger news editor

Bludgeoning of 20 cats is an act of violence that should be of concern statewide, says president of Iowa Federation of Humane societies.

Twenty cats were bludgeoned to death in a weekend burglary at Noah's Ark Animal Foundation, and another six were critically injured. David Sykes, who operates the shelter for homeless cats and dogs, reported the break-in to authorities at 10 a.m. Saturday. Sykes, who reported nothing was amiss when he left the shelter at 7:45 Friday evening, was alerted of the situation Saturday morning by volunteers who discovered the bloody scene when they arrived at the shelter to feed and care for the animals.

"I walked into the house and saw cats bludgeoned to death and furniture turned over," said Sykes, still shaken this morning as he described the scene. "It was like a mad scene out of some horror movie. What must have gone on was beyond comprehension - there were pools of blood everywhere. It's a nightmare," Sykes continued. "I stood there picking up little animals we have cared for since they were kittens, and what they must have gone through is the thing that is killing me."

Sykes said the cats not injured in the attack were "hiding for their lives," and that several scattered during the intrusion and are still showing up at the shelter. Tom Colvin, the president of the Iowa Federation of Humane Societies and director of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa at Des Moines, said the attack on animals at Noah's Ark is sending shock waves throughout the animal protection community in Iowa.

A year ago, a similar situation occurred at an animal shelter in Muscatine when several dogs were shot. "It's a rare occurrence, and it just rocks animal protection groups when we see such brutality directed at places providing sanction for homeless and unwanted animals," said Colvin. "The difference between this one and the one in Muscatine is that someone had to create such a violent environment going into that facility and brutally beating these animals." Colvin warned against writing the incident off as a prank. "This is cold-blooded," he said. "There is no prank about it.

"The message out of here is that there is someone capable of such brutality that it has to concern the community and all of the state," said Colvin, who cited studies conducted by the US Humane Society and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that show "a direction correlation between cruelty to animals and acts of violence against humans." The Iowa Federation of Humane Societies has offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the killings, and Colvin expects additional reward money to be offered by the US Humane Society. Persons with information are asked to call the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department at 472-4146 or Noah's Ark Animal Foundation at 472-6080.

There was no sign of forced entry at the shelter. "Whoever did this scoped it out," said Sykes. The ferocity of the beatings indicates to Sykes that the perpetrator is "brutal and strong." Deputy Joe Smotz, who is investigating the incident for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, termed the cat killings "sadistic." He said there was nothing ritualistic or satanic about the killings, but said that "anyone who would do this would do the same thing to a human."

Smutz said that as of this morning, authorities have no suspects. Eventual charges could include everything from burglary to cruelty to animals. "I want to make sure we catch this sucker," Sykes said. "Somebody knows what happened. We need to pull together as a community to find out who did this and bring the person to justice," said Sykes. "The next time, it could be someone's child. If anyone knows what happened, they have to tell (authorities) to save someone from the next incident."

Sykes said the cat killings leave the future of Noah's Ark Animal Foundation in some jeopardy. The shelter has temporarily closed down and is not accepting any animals, and volunteers are also seeking homes for 30 to 40 animals. "I need to reduce the pressure on Noah's Ark," said Sykes. "There's no way we can continue, given this." Sykes is seeking emergency, tax-deductible donations to cover the medical costs incurred by the shelter. Fairfield veterinarian Kathy Axford of the Veterinary Clinic was at the shelter Saturday morning to provide care to six cats critically injured in the attack, and although the clinic has donated its services, expenses will be incurred to transport three cats to Ames for more specialized treatment. Three of the injured cats, with casts on their limbs, have been returned to the hospital room at Noah's Ark.

St. Gabriel's and All Angels Liberal Catholic Church at Burlington Avenue and C Street is holding a healing service at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Jim McGill, a deacon for the church, said he and a dozen men meeting at the church Saturday morning, responded to Noah's Ark after hearing about the attack to help with clean-up and cremation of the dead cats. The idea of the service came up that morning. "We decided it would be a very good thing to have a public healing service after such a traumatic event," said McGill.

Sykes said the acts by the men of St. Gabriel's and Axford and members of the Veterinary Clinic staff brought some light to an otherwise dark situation. "When these men left me, I knew without a doubt in my mind what Christian charity means," said Sykes. "I have heard those words, but now I know what it means."

Reprinted with permission of The Fairfield Ledger.

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