CITRONELLE, Ala. (WALA) - Police in Citronelle said someone is mutilating family pets. There have been seven dogs found so far around Russell Road, and there are two more reported missing.
Citronelle Police Chief Shane Stringer said nine pets have been taken right out of people's yards. Seven of them have been found.
"One of the dogs had been decapitated. The other dog had its throat slit. While investigating those cases, we’ve had three other dogs that had been killed. One of those appeared to be poisoned and the ears cut off. The other two appeared to just be poisoned,” said Stringer.
They are shocking discoveries that are scaring citizens like Mary Vise who has dogs of her own.
"They are my family. Yeah, they are my babies,” said Vise.
Vise can’t imagine why someone would do such a thing.
"I don't know if they are doing it in reaction from the devil because you don't know,” said Vise.
Janine Woods is the Executive Director of the Mobile SPCA. She said in her experience, people who commit such acts are either psychotic or dangerously angry.
"They lash out on animals very often because, more likely than not, they will get away with it, or the animal is not going to be able to defend itself,” said Woods.
Woods said police need to look at the fact that the majority of serial killers have a history of animal mutilation or animal cruelty.
“One thing you need to look at in a case like this is that every serial killer that has ever come along has been accused of or has done some sort of animal abuse or animal mutilation before they were caught or before they got old enough to be a serial killer,” said Woods.
It's a fact Stringer is not taking lightly.
"That’s a major concern of the police department. Hopefully, we will be able to catch who's doing this soon and put a stop to it before it gets worse,” said Stringer.
Stringer said he received a report of another dog found decapitated 15 minutes away in Calvert. He can’t help but think they are connected.
Woods said whoever is responsible could serve jail time if it is a felony. Animal cruelty is only a felony if it is proven the person acted intentionally and maliciously. Woods said that shouldn't be a problem in this case.
First, police have to catch them. Right now, Stringer said they have no leads but have put extra patrols in the area and are doing everything they can. There’s also a $1,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest.
Call Citronelle Police at 251-866-5527 if you have any information.
