Upshur County, West Virginia – A man, Bryan Schooley, aged 38, has been charged with animal cruelty following accusations of killing and skinning a cat, as reported by the Buckhannon Police Department.
The incident unfolded when a welfare check request was made, with the caller alleging that Schooley had “killed and skinned a cat the day prior,” according to details provided in a criminal complaint.
Upon receiving the report, officers from the Buckhannon Police Department engaged with Bryan Schooley. During their interaction, Schooley admitted to officers that he had strangled his pet cat.
Additionally, Schooley confessed to skinning the cat, claiming it was an attempt to experiment with taxidermy. He asserted that he had killed the cat because he believed it was sick, citing symptoms such as coughing and concerns of potential rabies, according to the complaint.
When questioned about whether he had sought professional veterinary care for the cat’s condition, Schooley stated that he had not. He further disclosed that he had placed the cat in his lap and proceeded to strangle it to death.
Officers noted the presence of “several lacerations on [Schooley’s] hands,” which Schooley attributed to the cat’s scratching during the fatal encounter, as outlined in the complaint.
