Families’ fury friends are not safe outside in New Madrid

NEW MADRID Mo. (KBSI) – Worried people in New Madrid keeping their pets indoors. 

Two families reporting their pets died from suspected poisoning. 

Pet owners are locking their doors tight tonight as some cats in New Madrid were recently found dead outside. 

A family reported to the New Madrid Police Department that they found their cat dead outside two weeks ago. 

Then again, this past weekend, another family around the block reporting the same situation happened with their pet. 

New Madrid Police Department getting these calls from heartbroken families in the area. 

Assistant Police Chief Brandon Hanner says he thinks this poisoning is taking place as people are trying to get rid of rodents. 

“So, we’ve had reports of skunks in the area, a large number of skunks, and in the past the way they’re being found is suggestive that it could be a poisoning,” said Hanner.  

Hanner says though there is a rodent issue in New Madrid, residents need to report any problems to the Missouri Conservation Department instead of taking matters into their own hands. 

“Sometimes people will put out poison for skunks or other pests and things like that. We obviously do not recommend that as it is illegal against wildlife code,” said Hanner. 

Christopher Barnes, a Conservation Agent for New Madrid County says instead of handling rodent issues illegally there are other things you can do. 

“If you have any wildlife in your yard or anything that’s causing damage a lot of people like with the skunks or something crawling underneath their houses digging holes in their yard messing stuff up. Your best bet is just get you a live trap cage similar to this one. It won’t kill him, and you can just throw them and set the trap and once they get in there, they’ll be closed in there. They can’t get you, can’t buy you or nothing like that. Just take them out in the country and release them,” said Barnes.

As of tonight, the only animals being affected are the cute cats around Capitol Street in New Madrid.

“No dogs at the moment, no dogs that we know of or that I know of anyways. You know if you see anything be sure to call the New Madrid Police station there, he’ll call me either one we can relay that information, if need be,” said Barnes.

This investigation is ongoing, and the New Madrid Police Department and Missouri Conservation are working together to stop this poisoning.