Luzerne County man who went 'fishing for cats' pleads guilty to animal cruelty
A Pennsylvania man accused of “fishing for cats” has pleaded guilty this week to animal cruelty charges.
Kenny Rowles of Plymouth, Luzerne County, was arrested in May on accusations he baited a fishing hook to catch a neighborhood cat. The cat, Tollie, was near the brink of death when he was found with hooks in his mouth, tongue and throat, according to prosecutors. Tollie was able to recover and was sent to an animal rescue.
Update on one of the "fishhook kitties "Tollie" in Plymouth PA rescued by Happy Hearts & Tails Safe Haven! Pls donate for the care treatment of these darlings! Use paypal https://t.co/zywG1qKLED or donate per link Donate link: https://t.co/afozhYaUoT …! https://t.co/NFwGmNFDIV pic.twitter.com/c1xt0GYgrQ
— Peter Askin (@PeterAskin1) April 13, 2019
Rowles, 28, pleaded guilty to a felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals involving torture and a misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals. Luzerne County Judge Michael Vough accepted the plea and set sentencing for Dec. 2, the Citizens’ Voice in Wilkes-Barre reported. The paper reported Rowles is free on bail pending his sentencing.
'CAT FISHER' PLEADS GUILTY
Kenny Rowles of Nanticoke plead guilty to torturing and committing cruelty to animals. Earlier this year humane officers arrested Rowles, accusing him of 'fishing for cats' with baited hooks on fishing lines around his home @WNEP pic.twitter.com/8UURuHi4VO— Chelsea Strub (@chelseastrub) September 30, 2019
In April, Rowles’ neighbor in Plymouth reported him to an animal advocacy organization when she saw him dangling a fishing rod from his second-floor porch, Fox 29 reported.
Humane officers visited Rowles’ home and said he told them he had attached meat on fish lines to attract cats, according to WNEP.
Luzerne County Humane Officer Lisa Devlin told WNEP: “He was in pretty bad shape, the cat, plus with the string hanging out of his mouth it was pretty severe, so I’m glad justice is going to be served, full faith in that will happen.”
Bret Gibson is a TribLive digital producer. A South Hills resident, he started working for the Trib in 1998. He can be reached at bgibson@triblive.com.
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