Cat intentionally suffocated to death

Warning: Some of the details and video images of this story are graphic.

PORTLAND, Ore. - A cat found dead in a Northeast neighborhood was apparently suffocated and an animal abuse investigation has been launched to determine who killed it.

Neighbors said they are shocked such a death occurred in their quiet and safe neighborhood.

“Yeah, that’s horrible,” said Todd Anderson who lives in the area. “Like I said, we haven’t had any problems here. All of the people are good stand-up people.”

People in the neighborhood routinely take in strays and feed them which was the case for an employee at the neighborhood’s Greek Orthodox Church.

“He comes out, plays behind the building with one of our tenant’s cats,” said Bob Shaffer referring to the dead cat. He recognized the cat that was found smothered in a plastic Oregonian bag and left in the street with the leaves and garbage.

“Pretty sickening that there is people walking amongst us that would do something like that,” said Shaffer.

Portland police said they hope to find the person with the help of Multnomah County Animal Control.

“The difficulty is going to be trying to find out who is responsible,” said John Rowton, director of Multnomah County Animal Control. “At this moment there are no witnesses but some may come forward.”

Rowton said there are no other complaints of animal abuse in the area so the death of this cat could be an isolated case.

Anyone with information about how this cat died can call the Animal Control tip line at 503-988-6238.

Animal Control said it gets more than 800 animal cruelty complaints every year in Multnomah County. Rowton said it will probably take a tip from the public to catch the person responsible.