News

February 10, 2010

Cops: Trap kills cat; man faces animal cruelty charge

David Robbins allegedly trapped feline because it urinated on a wood pile.

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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JENKINS TWP. – A man is facing an animal cruelty charge for allegedly killing a cat because it urinated on a wood pile, according to arrest records.

Township police allege David Robbins, 60, of Heather Highlands, used a trap to kill the cat on Dec. 22.

Robbins could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Police filed the charge, a first-degree misdemeanor that was mailed to Robbins, at the office of District Judge Diana Malast in Plains Township on Monday.

A preliminary hearing has been tentatively scheduled on March 9.

According to the criminal complaint:

Susan Hoffman and Jen Gable told police their dog was barking, and they went outside to see why. They found a cat thrashing in a trap that was allegedly set by Robbins on his porch.

The cat died as Hoffman and Gable attempted to free it from the trap.

Robbins told police a friend gave him the trap because cats had been urinating on a wood pile, the criminal complaint says.

Police said the Pennsylvania Game Commission identified the device used to kill the cat as a type of trap primarily used to trap water animals such as beavers.

Police learned the trap is manufactured to kill and closes with 90 pounds of pressure.

After the cat died, Robbins placed the feline still in the trap in a garbage bag.

Police said in the complaint they recovered the dead animal and the trap from a shed behind Robbins’ residence.

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