A man has been arrested and charged with several counts of aggravated animal cruelty after placing fishing hooks in pet food he used to feed stray cats.

27-year-old Kenny Rowles from Plymouth, England, was accused of serious bodily injury and animal torture after The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals discovered a stray cat with a fishing hook in its mouth.

In addition to that kitten, Happy Hearts and Tails Safe Haven Animal Rescue reported two other cats being found severely injured because of swallowing a fishhook. One of the cats, Tollie, had to undergo a surgery due to the severity of injuries.

As Dawn Mandygral of the rescue institution revealed, she had been suspecting that a local was responsible for feeding cats with fishhooks because all of the injured felines were discovered in the same area.

“There was a string with a hook, and then he put food on it, dangling for the cat and the cat ate it. He deliberately – he was fishing for cats. That’s what he said,” the founder said in an interview with WNEP.

After the cops were alerted about Dawn’s findings, the officers went to Kenny’s home where the man confirmed the allegations and got arrested.

As Lisa Devlin, Luzerne County Humane Officer, added, stray cats have been living in an abandoned house next to Kenny’s home.

“The charges are very serious, it was very harmful to the cat. I’m thankful that the justice system will step in now and get justice for Tollie,” she said in an interview with the Times Leader.

“The intent was a little bit concerning. Neglect is one thing but the intent to intentionally harm and knowingly, just like the law says, it’s concerning.”

What are your thoughts on this case? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to SHARE this post with your friends and family on Facebook and follow us for more news and stories!