And now cats are coyote bait?

Cats tied up, used as live baitPolice seek to arrest hunters responsible
By Josh DeVine
Linden - (03/23/06)--Police need your help to solve a shocking case of animal abuse. Earlier this month, officers found two cats wired to a tree and left for dead.

They also found the remains of a deer, a raccoon and a possum at a swamp on West Ralston Road in Linden.

Police say the animals were used for bait as hunters tried to track coyotes. Now police are trying to track down the hunters.

It all started with an anonymous tip that led police to a swamp. But what police found wired to the base of a tree was not only shocking; it's also criminal.

"There's no way the cat could have got loose. No way," said Linden Police Chief Pete VanDriessche.

And that was the point. Police say someone wired two cats to the tree.

"It was quite elaborate, as a matter of fact," the chief said. "This is not right. This is definitely not right."

VanDriessche says he's sure someone wanted to attract coyotes, killing them for their coat.

"And I hear that cats are the best bait is what I'm hearing," VanDriessche said.

The crime is a felony.

"This is the first one I've seen in my 25 years," VanDriessche said. "I've never seen one like this. I've seen animal abuse. But this as far as I'm concerned is really bad."

The Humane Society of the United States put up a $2,500 reward to find the person who did this.

"You know, if you're going to hunt coyotes, there's a way to do it without using live bait," VanDriessche said.

Already the chief has a half dozen tips and a few leads. But if you know something, the chief wants to hear from you. You can reach him at (810) 735-5454.

Genesee County Animal Control quarantined the animals for 10 days after one of the cats bit a firefighter during the rescue.

The cats were aggressive and weren't able to be adopted, so workers made the tough choice to put the animals down.