Reward to catch cat killer

A Hull businessman has offered a reward to help trap the heartless person who is poisoning cats in an East Yorkshire village.

More than a dozen cats and kittens are believed to have died in agony after picking up the deadly poison in Gilberdyke, near Brough.

Now a Hull-based businessman has anonymously put up a £500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the cat-hater.

Community leaders have welcomed the move amid fears whoever is killing cats will continue their terrible vendetta against the beloved pets.

As first reported in the Mail, the police and RSPCA are investigating the series of incidents which have devastated pet owners and horrified cat lovers across the county.

The businessman, who previously lived in Gilberdyke, said: "I am a cat owner myself and hope that the reward will help to put a stop to these appalling incidents.

"There are many humane ways to deter cats from going on gardens, but poisoning them so they die a slow, painful and agonising death is not the way."

The Mail highlighted the case of heartbroken five-year-old Libby Reynolds, from Gilberdyke, who has lost three cats in poisoning incidents.

It led to other cat owners contacting the newspaper about more pets going missing in the village and prompted a public outcry on this website.

Ward councillor Paul Robinson, who lives in Gilberdyke, said: "I welcome anything that will put a stop to this and hopefully the reward will do the trick.

"It cannot continue to have pet cats and kittens dying in such a painful and disturbing manner."

A Humberside Police spokesman said no arrests had been made and inquiries were continuing into the incidents.

Anyone with information should call the police on 0845 6060222 quoting crime number 792 of June 20, or the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.