7-21-04 - An Ardmore man is accused of stuffing a stray cat into a trash bag, then putting the bag inside two boxes and leaving it on the curb Monday, as temperatures soared into the 90's. Despite rescue attempts, by the next day, that cat was dead.

It began on Monday morning, when a man in the 1200 block of Wolverton Northwest Street called animal control, saying they needed to pick up a cat at his curb. The officer assumed the cat was dead, and when he arrived, he placed the box in the back of his truck. It wasn't until the box was dropped off at the animal shelter for disposal that workers realized the cat wasn't dead at all. An Ardmore police officer called to the scene described the horrible sight - "It was unable to move and it was panting to catch it's breath, but it couldn't. Its eyes were glazed over and fixated and it was completely saturated with sweat," says officer Tracy Zimmerman

The cat died by the next day. Officers have questioned the homeowner, who told them he felt he was justified in bagging and boxing up the cat. The case has been turned over to the district attorney's office. They are currently reviewing the evidence, but it will most likely require more investigation before charges can be filed.