MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Monongalia County man turned himself into police early Tuesday morning for animal cruelty.
James Gregory Wicker, 43, of Morgantown, told police he strangled one of his nine cats at his Harding Street home.
The cats were being fostered in Wicker’s home, but are the property of Appalachian Peace Paws. The non-profit’s Facebook page said it educates the public on the importance of spay/neuter, reduces community cat populations through these programs, and rescues and adopts out eligible animals.
It continues: “The mission of Appalachian Peace Paws Rescue is threefold: to rescue abused, neglected, homeless, and orphaned friendly pets and to place them in a loving home; to educate the community about the benefits of animal spay/neuter and assist pet owners and caretakers with low cost spay/neuter services; and to implement a Community Cat Trap Neuter Release (TNR) program in Monongalia and Marion Counties.”
The cat Wicker admitted to strangling is currently in treatment at a local vet’s office. Five of the cats are in custody of animal control. Three others have yet to be retrieved.