Two Dozen Dead Cats Discovered in Bags, Hanging from Trees in Yonkers

The remains of more than two dozen dead cats were discovered in bags hanging from trees Thursday at an address on Overlook Terrace in Yonkers, according to police and the SPCA of Westchester.

The bodies, in various stages of decomposition, were discovered by a Yonkers Public Works employee during a routine cleaning assignment. It appears that the cats were beaten to death, according to the SPCA of Westchester, as blunt force trauma to their heads has been the preliminary determination of the cause of death.

A local veterinarian is performing further analysis on the remains. Yonkers police and the SPCA are investigating the grim discovery.

“All of us at the SPCA of Westchester are deeply appalled by this depraved act of animal cruelty,” said Shannon Laukhuf, executive director, in a statement. “I want to assure the public that we will use every resource available to us to bring those responsible to swift justice.” 

Below is the full press release from the SPCA of Westchester:

On Thursday, April 24th the SPCA of Westchester’s Humane Law Enforcement Unit was contacted by the Yonkers Police Department regarding discovery of the remains of 25 cats found in various stages of decomposition in 30 plastic bags tied to a tree at 14 Overlook Terrace in Yonkers, NY. The bags were discovered by Yonkers Department of Public Works employees performing a routine clean-up of the area. 

The SPCA of Westchester transported the bodies to a local veterinarian to perform necropsies on three of the bodies. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head. It is believed that all of the cats suffered the same death. Additional items were removed from the scene for further analysis.

According to Ernie Lungaro, Director of the SPCA’s HLE Unit, “Both the SPCA of Westchester and the Yonkers Police Department are highly motivated to find those who are responsible for this heinous act. The investigation continues as we follow up leads and conduct interviews. 

“All of us at the SPCA of Westchester are deeply appalled by this depraved act of animal cruelty,” said Shannon Laukhuf, Executive Director. “I want to assure the public that we will use every resource available to us to bring those responsible to swift justice.”

Anyone with any information is urged to call the SPCA of Westchester confidential hotline at 914-941-7797.