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A former employee at a Texas animal shelter has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty following the deaths of numerous kittens. Urge the district attorney to seek full prosecution in this case!

Over the summer, staff at the Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter in Weatherford, Texas began an internal investigation into an unexplained increase in kitten deaths. According to the city officials, the deaths were initially suspected to be disease-related, or caused by something in the environment. Specimens were sent for testing, but amazingly the necropsies didn't provide any answers. Other steps were taken, including installing new HVAC systems, ensuring cleaning procedures, and tracking animals and employee schedules, among other measures.

However, in July an employee finally witnessed Gabriel Caswell mistreating a kitten and the Weatherford Police Department was notified. Caswell had been hired as an animal care technician in February, and during his employment more than 80 kittens who had arrived in fair condition died, including 51 in June alone!

When police reviewed video footage, they found Caswell causing serious harm to a black kitten, whose spine was found to be severed. Caswell was arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty on July 14, and again on July 29 after more footage showed him beating another kitten multiple times before eventually throwing the kitten's lifeless body into the trash. He bonded out both times.

Caswell may well be charged with killing more kittens as the police department reviews videos that may implicate him in their deaths. For now, we must seek justice for the two kittens who suffered unforgivable agony before death.

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