Cruelty notes

ANIMAL CRUELTY INFO: Companions For Life, the local education group, continues its Top Dog Speaker Series Wednesday with a presentation by Paul Curington, operations manager for the Dallas Animal Services & Adoption Center. Among the topics that'll be addressed:  How does the law define cruelty; when can animal control step in; who do you call; why should you report suspected hoarders, etc.

The event, free to local rescuers and shelter staffers, starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at REI, 4515 LBJ Freeway in Dallas. (That's on the north side of LBJ between the Dallas North Tollway and Midway Road.) You must RSVP at info@companionsforlife.org. No critters except service dogs.

THE DEATHS OF CATS: We have been alerted by Celia Orr, the Feral Cat Coordinator with KittiCo, that someone has killed some cats and kittens in an area just east of downtown Dallas. Evidence is these deaths are not due to animal attacks, but are the result of encounters with humans. The first calls came in on Thanksgiving and people in the neighborhood have continued to report the deaths of cats and kittens, Celia says.  A neighborhood poster campaign to remind people of cruelty laws is being planned in the area is along Annex Avenue between San Jacinto and Bryan streets. Some of these animals are among members of a cat colony that KittiCo has monitored through trap-neuter-release for a couple of years. At least one of the dead kittens is a pet that had recently been spayed through Kittico. If you know anything about these unlawful acts, contact the police.

Animal cruelty is against the law in Texas and Dallas County is not shy about prosecuting offenders and sending them to prison, as recent trials have demonstrated.