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We have and update on the story about an investigation into whether or not stray cats were cooked on a grill and consumed by residents a local apartment complex.
Since our story first aired on Sunday, BARC has received a lot of calls. Today, investigators are ready to release their findings.
An anonymous tip of cat carcasses seen cooked on an open grill prompted an immediate investigation into a southwest Houston apartment complex.
But the story that has given so many pet lovers pause is likely a hoax according to the people at Houston's Bureau of Animal Regulation and Control or BARC.
"We were not able to find anyone who reported missing a cat," said Kathy Barton, of Houston's Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees BARC. "We were not able to identify any witnesses. Basically what we have is an anonymous complaint for which we can do no further investigation unless someone comes forward."
On Sunday, officials told channel 39 that they collected bone fragments from nearby dumpsters to analyze. So what became of that?
"We were not able to come to any conclusion with that," said Barton. "There are animals that have been consumed that are similar to the size and structure of a cat."
She says BARC receives similar reports once or twice every year, and they investigate all of them. They're not at all surprise that this tale came up short.
"In our previous investigations and in similar investigations around the country... We mostly find these are hoaxes. If we get more information, we'd be happy to go back out there, but we've already been there twice. We've interviewed the management and other residents, and we've not been able to find anyone who could verify these accusations."
Shockingly, the DA's office says it's not illegal to cook and eat cat flesh in Texas, as long it's a wild or stray cat and was not killed in a cruel manner. Don't believe us? Look up Texas Penal Code 49.02. Cats that are "pets" fall into a different statute.
Since our story first aired on Sunday, BARC has received a lot of calls. Today, investigators are ready to release their findings.
An anonymous tip of cat carcasses seen cooked on an open grill prompted an immediate investigation into a southwest Houston apartment complex.
But the story that has given so many pet lovers pause is likely a hoax according to the people at Houston's Bureau of Animal Regulation and Control or BARC.
"We were not able to find anyone who reported missing a cat," said Kathy Barton, of Houston's Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees BARC. "We were not able to identify any witnesses. Basically what we have is an anonymous complaint for which we can do no further investigation unless someone comes forward."
On Sunday, officials told channel 39 that they collected bone fragments from nearby dumpsters to analyze. So what became of that?
"We were not able to come to any conclusion with that," said Barton. "There are animals that have been consumed that are similar to the size and structure of a cat."
She says BARC receives similar reports once or twice every year, and they investigate all of them. They're not at all surprise that this tale came up short.
"In our previous investigations and in similar investigations around the country... We mostly find these are hoaxes. If we get more information, we'd be happy to go back out there, but we've already been there twice. We've interviewed the management and other residents, and we've not been able to find anyone who could verify these accusations."
Shockingly, the DA's office says it's not illegal to cook and eat cat flesh in Texas, as long it's a wild or stray cat and was not killed in a cruel manner. Don't believe us? Look up Texas Penal Code 49.02. Cats that are "pets" fall into a different statute.
