Don't endanger your pets by letting them out

To the Editor:

The recent case in which a Hocking College student allegedly killed a cat by stomping on the animal, then cut out the cat's liver and used it as fishing bait and left the body on another student's car, is a chilling reminder of why animals must never be allowed outdoors unattended.

Random acts of cruelty such as this are common. Most of the more than 300 new cruelty cases PETA receives weekly involve animals who were victimized while outside unattended. Every day, animals are stolen for experimentation, poisoned, used for target practice or bait for dog fighting and worse after being left outside alone for "just a few minutes." Extreme weather, traffic and insect-borne diseases also claim the lives of untold dogs and cats each week.

For the entire community's safety, let's hope that the person who tortured and killed this cat, if convicted, is given the maximum sentence. Animal abusers are cowards who take their issues out on "easy victims" "“ and as criminal records show, their targets often include members of their own species.

Please, never allow animals outdoors unsupervised. To learn more, visit www.HelpingAnimals.com.

Martin Mersereau, director
Emergency Response Team
Cruelty Investigations Department
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
Norfolk, Va.