ONTARIO, Ore. — Authorities in eastern Oregon are investigating after reports of feral cats being tortured and killed.
The abuse is allegedly occurring at an Ontario mobile park, which police aren't naming due to the ongoing investigation.
Amy Kee of the Ontario Feral Cat Project says she got a call last Sunday from someone staying at the park.
"They had said that there were some poisoning going on of cats," says Kee.
Kee went to the area to investigate and found a number of dead cats in traps that had been poisoned.
"They truly are just bleeding internally as they die, I mean poisoning is just an awful way for them to die," says Kee.
Police are now investigating animal cruelty charges, which is a misdemeanor under Oregon law. Kee and a band of volunteers rescued as many living cats as they could.
"It took up to several days, but we are up to 20 now, four adults, and 16 kittens. We are already beyond full and we thought what are we going to do with all these cats from the colony, but we had no choice," says Kee.
Kee says taking in 20 new cats has put a strain on Ontario's Feral Cat Project.
"All together they are probably going to cost us, if everybody stays someone what healthy, over $2,500," says Kee.
The Ontario Feral Cat Project is a nonprofit based solely on donations and fundraising, which is why Kee is asking the community for food, litter and new homes.
"We would do anything for them, but we just need more help," says Kee.
If you would like to see how you can help, click here.