Mysterious animal targeting League City pets?

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- League City residents are concerned about a predator on the loose they believe is behind the disappearance of several family pets.

While some residents say they've seen and heard coyotes, others say that's not what to blame.

"Thomas, I don't know where he went. Turned around and he was gone," resident Jennifer Lewis said of her missing cat.

Lewis misses him and believes her other two cats notice him missing too.

"He was very, very shy around people and never meowed. It was just open his mouth and nothing came out, but when he'd see you he'd come running up to you as fast as he could," she said.

There's lots of places a catnapper could hide around Marina Del Sol. Lewis believes it was a coyote and says her husband saw it.

"He really thought it was a wolf because he said it was really, really big," she said.

Others say they've heard it.

"You can hear them at night about 8:30 or 9 at night they run in packs and you can hear them wooooo," pet owner Gina Dominique said.

Karen Murchison says she's never heard a coyote.

"I have to disagree with that," she said. "I believe that we need to be looking up and I think that's where our petnappers are coming from."

Murchison believes it's a large bird she's had personal experiences with while walking Maurice.

"At first it was like, 'Oh ha, ha, ha' and then I was like, 'Oh my gosh. This bird is actually going to take my dog,' and so I went running and screaming," she said.

The city says the calls they've received involve coyotes.

"At this point, there have been several animals that have come up missing so we do have our officers consulting with the animal tracker that's on our police force to figure out what steps they need to take and go look for that animal," League City Director of Communications Kristi Wyatt said.

Whatever it is, pet owners are keeping a closer eye on their furry family members.

"It's terrible. We have to watch our dog, we keep him on a leash," Murchison said.

"Now we have our other two cats and we are watching out for them because they like to come and go too," Lewis said.

The city's animal control department says it will not respond to calls involving wildlife but if a wild animal does become a serious threat, it will get involved.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Animal shelter fundraising effort burglarized

  By Crystal KobzaHOUSTON (KTRK) -- File this one under 'no good deed goes unpunished.' A Liberty County store Eyewitness News just featured two days ago that was preparing to hold a big fundraiser was robbed just hours after that story aired.

The Old Wells Store in Tarkington is still preparing for a county-wide garage sale to raise money to open an animal shelter. Most all of the items for sale are there for a reason -- to sell and make cash to put towards opening the animal shelter which everyone in this community says is desperately needed.

Just two days ago, the Old Wells Store had some big ticket items for sale, saddles were among them. But just two days later they're gone -- not purchased, but stolen. Also taken from the store was about $150 from a donation jar.

"They must be pretty desperate for some money to come in and take something that's from a non-profit, something that's going to help the animals in our community," said Ruth Stetson, Vice President of the North Liberty County Animal Shelter.

A back window on the building was broken out and that's where the burglars got in. None of the windows had burglar bars.

"Of course we boarded it up, to try to keep somebody else out, of course," Stetson said.

Stetson says since 2005 she has been the driving force behind raising money to actually open the shelter.

"I field anywhere from eight to 10, even a dozen phone calls a week, people calling with animals they want to donate or they have seen, or that have been dropped off on their property," Stetson said.

So far, enough money has been raised to purchase land, but today the land still sits empty. Volunteers with the animal shelter say they're just shocked that the people behind the break-in would be so petty.

"We're working so hard for every little bit, it seems like we just get a little bit at a time," volunteer Linda Ross said.

Ross said even with the financial set-back, they're not giving up. They will continue to raise money to make sure all animals have a place to call home.

"It affects the animal," she said. "It's less animals that we can help."

A lot of money is still needed to get the shelter up and running. They say they need at least $30,000. That's not including the money still owed for the land.

To donate, contact Ruth Stetson at 281-761-3469.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Owner of Texas City animal shelter Whiskerville facing animal cruelty charges

LA MARQUE, TX (KTRK) -- Two people, whose jobs are to care for animals at a local shelter, are charged with animal cruelty.

The owner and employee from the Texas City facility are charged with four counts each of animal cruelty. The woman who turned them in says it appeared no one had checked on the cats for days.

On a website, there are pages of furry faces and names to go with them. Anson, Jared, Erin are waiting to be adopted at Whiskerville Animal Sanctuary in Texas City.

"I was heartbroken because I never dreamed it was that bad," said the woman who called authorities.

She asked not to be identified but says it appeared the cats were also waiting to be cared for.

"I'll be honest with you, I didn't know there were dead cats when I called, I just said there is something terribly wrong," she said.

The woman who turned the owner in only saw animals inside for days and noticed cats were not moving in a bassinet.

"All the cats were just in a big, giant circle in a pile. I tapped on the window and only two came over, so I came in and I called immediately and said there is something terribly, terribly wrong," she said.

Earlier this month, animal control found more than a dozen dead cats and hundreds in distress.

"I knew nobody had been coming, but I didn't realize they had been suffering, that's what is so sad," the woman said.

The owner of the no-kill shelter. Wydell Dixon doesn't dispute the conditions the cats were found in. What her attorneys argued in court, though, was it was one of her employees who let the shelter fall apart while she was gone for a month. Prosecutors fault both of them, charging the 56-year-old founder and her 48-year-old employee Kimberly Paskert with four counts each of felony cruelty to animals. Both women turned themselves in Wednesday night.

Those who say they witnessed the conditions are actually glad to see this shelter sitting empty now.

"I'm just thankful that everybody's eyes are opened and I pray to God that she is not allowed to do that again," the woman said.

The surviving cats are being nursed back to health under the care of the state for now. If convicted, the two could spend up to two years behind bars on each count.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Flooded animal shelter's owner asking for help

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An animal shelter in Waller County is facing a dire situation, thanks to the flooding weather.

About 56 dogs and five horses on a 20 acre "no kill" shelter in Waller County were in danger, according to their owner. The low-lying property is flooded and she's asking any kennels or people who can transport and care for the animals to please help.

Dogtown Ranch and Sanctuary rehabs unwanted dogs, which would be euthanized elsewhere, and many are pit bulls. Foster homes are needed.

Help has arrived for some of the animals. The Washington Animal Clinic took 10 dogs. Two horses went to the Brazos Valley Equine Hospital.

The other horses are OK for now, but another six dogs need to be taken to a clinic. Hay is needed for the shelter as well.

No Paws Left Behind has donated $3,000 to the sanctuary.

The shelter's address is 45912 Qualls Road, Hempstead 77448. If you would like to help, please call 979-826-2480.

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Dead and dying cats found at animal sanctuary

  TEXAS CITY, TX (KTRK) -- Texas City police made a disturbing discovery at the Whiskerville Animal Sanctuary in Texas City.

Police found cats living in deplorable conditions at the sanctuary. Rescue workers pulled out dozens of live cats and found several more dead inside the facility.

Captain Brian Goetschius with the Texas City Police Department said, "We have obtained a civil order which allows us to go in to get the live animals to be taken to a veterinarian clinic or examined by a vet. We're in the process of getting a search warrant which would allow us to examine the physical condition of the premises."

Some workers had to use breathing masks to deal with the stench inside. The owner says she left an employee in charge of feeding the cats. That employee says she hired a volunteer to feed the cats but that volunteer never took care of the animals.

You may recall a legal fight in involving Whiskerville and the owner of two German Shepherds. In the summer of 2010, Daisy Garza's dogs got lost and ended up at Whiskerville. Garza tried to claim her animals but Whiskerville said it had already adopted out the dogs to a new owner. Garza took the animal sanctuary to court. After a few months of legal wrangling, a judge ordered the two dogs returned to Garza.

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