Foul play apparent in bodies of 6 dead cats found under Winnipeg bridge this month: police

WARNING: This story contains details of animal abuse.

Police say they're investigating a number of disturbing animal cruelty reports after six cats were found dead under the same bridge in west Winnipeg this month.

All the cats were found under the Summit Road bridge north of Summit Road and Saskatchewan Avenue over the last several weeks, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Tuesday.

Some of the animals were left in a bag or lying on the path underneath the bridge. Signs of foul play were apparent, police said. 

"This was a purposeful incident in all three circumstances," police spokesperson Const. Dani McKinnon said in an interview.

"It's a very unfortunate scenario and it's very disturbing. And I believe it would be a little bit disturbing for people who are coming upon them as well."

The dead cats, which were reported on Dec. 8, 28 and 30, were all discovered by citizens who walk or spend time in the area recreationally.

General patrol officers who were dispatched for the reports met with those people and have followed up with the Winnipeg Humane Society and the city's Animal Services Agency.

A few of the animals had pet identifiers, police said, so investigators are working to establish their owners where possible.

McKinnon said there was evidence the cats were abused, adding that while she didn't believe the reports on the incidents showed any had been mutilated, "there may have been some binding or some type of restraints" involved in some of the cases.

The update comes months after police said they were investigating reports of cats found dead in Winnipeg's Point Douglas area.

However, police said Tuesday they haven't established whether the latest incidents in the western part of the city are connected with those in Point Douglas. McKinnon said that investigation is still in the hands of the major crimes unit.

Anyone with information is asked to contact major crimes investigators at 204-986-6219. Tipsters can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477 (TIPS) or winnipegcrimestoppers.org.

"We certainly hope that somebody out there might have some information as to what's happening," McKinnon said. "The fact that these three incidents are all extremely similar would highly suggest some linkage between either an individual or some type of motive."