11 animals killed by poisoning over 3 days in Arkansas county, police say

MARKED TREE, Ark. (WREG) -- Seven cats, two dogs and two possums were found dead in close proximity to each other within two to three days, according to Marked Tree Police Capt. Anthony Parker.

Authorities said some of the animals were family pets, while others were strays and wildlife.

All of the animals were found dead in a specific neighborhood on the northwest side of the city, but Parker didn't say exactly where. He did reveal that authorities suspect foul play.

"Based on the lack of signs of any trauma to these animals, it has been determined that they were poisoned in some fashion," Parker said in a released statement Friday.

Tonya Carpenter's 2-year-old dog and 8-year-old cat were two of the animals poisoned. Carpenter said she found several cats dead along a driveway between two vacant houses.

When Carpenter went inside one of the houses to investigate, she found another dead cat, along with dead possums.

"We noticed some cat food had been placed on the floor and what seemed to have a black substance in it," Carpenter said. "I immediately was like, 'Oh my God, somebody put poison in this.'"

Carpenter said she had the food analyzed and was told the black substance is a pesticide called Temik.