FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Jay LeVitre, Animal Services Development & Communications Coordinator, 503.988.6232
July 7, 2017 (Troutdale, OR) - Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS) received an urgent update on Friday, July 7, regarding the case of a decapitated cat, “Button,” found in Portland. Randall Brown, MCAS Field Manager, reports that the cat was killed by a moving vehicle and scavenged, rather than being mutilated by a malicious person as some had feared.
MCAS Animal Control Officers responded to a report of a mutilated cat found on the 1100 Block of Southeast 28th Ave in Portland on Monday, July 3, 2017. Finders of the black cat, “Button,” were concerned that she was found decapitated, and suspected malicious intent by a person.
The body of Button was brought to Multnomah County Animal Services for an initial inspection on Wednesday, July 5, then sent to Oregon State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for necropsy and analysis.
Findings of the necropsy indicate that Button died from blunt force trauma, consistent with being struck by a moving vehicle. The body of the cat was then scavenged. Button’s owner has been notified of the final results with condolences for her loss.
“While the loss of this cat is tragic and disturbing, we can believe that the cat’s death and condition is not the result of a malicious person, but rather that of a vehicle accident and natural scavengers,” said Randall Brown, MCAS Field Services Manager. He added “cat fatality cases such as this one are common during summer months, when predators and scavengers are more active in our communities.”
Multnomah County Animal Services encourages community members to continue reporting similar cases to 503.988.7387 for investigation by Animal Control Officers. Cat owners are also encouraged to keep their cats confined indoors or supervised outdoors using “catios” as outlined by the Cats Safe at Home program to reduce the risk of harm to free-roaming cats due to vehicles, predators, or other dangers.
About Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS): Multnomah County Animal Services cares for approximately 6,000 animals each year, 100 percent of which are from the local community. As the only open admission shelter in Portland, Multnomah County Animal Services is a national leader with record-high save rates. In order to sustain our success in saving the lives of local animals, Animal Services relies on the Portland community to adopt, foster, volunteer, license their pets, and donate.