Wisconsin man accused of sealing 8 cats in a container left near a dumpster, killing 7 of them

WEST BEND, Wis. (TCN) -- A Wisconsin man has been arrested in connection with the deaths of several cats found sealed in a plastic container and placed next to a dumpster. 

The West Bend Police Department said officers were called at 12:32 p.m. on Nov. 2 when a container of cats was found, the Washington County Insider reports. Seven of the eight cats were already dead, but one had survived. She was transported to an emergency veterinary clinic and is being cared for at the Washington County Humane Society, WITI reports. 

Investigators located and arrested a 26-year-old man, who was taken to jail on seven counts of mistreatment to animals causing death, WITI reports.

He reportedly admitted to authorities that he had placed eight of his 11 cats in the container when his girlfriend was out of town because they could not afford to feed them all, the Washington County Insider reports. His girlfriend found out what he had allegedly done when she returned home.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office will determine charges once necropsies of the cats are complete, WTMJ-TV reports.

The Washington County Humane Society said it is “nothing short miraculous” that one of the cats survived, WTMJ-TV reports. The cat, now named Helena, is eating and drinking and interacting with shelter volunteers. 

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