Authorities in Berkeley County have arrested multiple individuals in connection with the poisoning of over a dozen cats in a local colony.
The incident came to light in early October when a woman arrived at a cat colony off Drop Off Drive to feed the animals, only to discover several had died. The colony was part of the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) program, aimed at managing feral cat populations humanely.
Detectives from the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene, secured a search warrant, and began gathering evidence.
The next day, representatives from the Charleston Animal Society arrived to retrieve the deceased cats. They were sent to Professional Veterinary Pathology Services in Columbia and Michigan State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for analysis.
During the investigation, detectives identified Andrew George Dock as a person of interest. According to the sheriff’s office, Dock had previously lodged a complaint about the cats, describing them as a nuisance and voicing his frustration about their presence in the area.
Further inquiries revealed that Dock enlisted the help of four others to poison the cats, according to officials.
The case has sparked outrage among animal welfare advocates, highlighting the ongoing challenges of balancing community concerns with humane treatment of feral animals.
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