Several Horizon City families woke up Tuesday to a scene that felt straight out of a crime show: multiple dead cats suddenly appearing on front lawns near a new housing development and a nearby water tower. Residents say the animals did not look like they had been hit by cars or attacked by other animals, and many now fear the cats were poisoned. The grim discovery has rattled the neighborhood and sparked calls for a full investigation.
As reported by KLAQ, people living west of Ricardo Estrada Middle School said they found the cats clustered around new construction near the water tower, with some neighbors counting multiple bodies over the past several days. Locals told the station they have noticed fewer stray dogs in the area since the cats began appearing and said the carcasses did not show obvious signs of trauma. The findings have been reported to local officials and are awaiting investigation.
Where to report
According to El Paso Animal Services, residents who live outside El Paso city limits should report animal welfare concerns to El Paso County Animal Welfare and can use the county's online reporting system or phone line. City guidance lists the county office at 9521 Socorro Rd., Suite B3 and directs people there for animal welfare complaints. Officials encourage anyone with photos, videos or witness information to hold on to that evidence and report it, rather than handling animals that might have been poisoned.
What the law allows
Under state law, intentionally torturing, poisoning or killing a non-livestock animal is illegal under Texas Penal Code Section 42.092. Depending on what investigators find and whether there are prior convictions, offenses can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies. In aggravated situations, evidence of poisoning or deliberate cruelty could lead to felony charges. The statute and penalty ranges are available in Texas Penal Code §42.092.
Community cats and local resources
Trap-neuter-return advocates note that ear-tipping is the typical sign a free-roaming cat has been fixed and vaccinated, and that community groups help care for and stabilize feral colonies across the Borderland. El Paso TNR provides information on TNR and community cat care, while rescue partners such as Sun City Kitty run adoption and outreach programs for former feral cats. Those groups have urged caution and reporting so any criminal activity can be investigated while colony caretakers continue their work.
Neighbors want answers
Residents say they want quicker action, especially after similar dead-animal dumping in the area in prior years, a pattern covered by KVIA. For now, officials advise neighbors to carefully document what they find, keep children and pets away from any suspicious animal remains and contact county animal welfare authorities using the county reporting page or the number listed by El Paso Animal Services.
