7 cats likely poisoned in Miami

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MIAMI, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Florida animal services authorities said Tuesday the deaths of about a half dozen cats found in the same vicinity are likely due to poisoning.

The cats, as many as seven, were found by Miami Beach parking department employee Julio Ledo between Sunday and Monday afternoon lying in the yard of a municipal building, parking operation manager Marcel Couso told The Miami Herald.

One cat that was still alive was taken to the Bay Road Animal Clinic, where veterinarians euthanized it because it was in pain, police said.

The euthanized cat will be given a necropsy to determine the cause of death, results of which should take three days to a week, Kathy Labrada, enforcement manager for Miami-Dade Animal Services, said.

"The majority of the time, when a large number of cats turn up deceased in the same vicinity it is likely due to poisoning and unfortunately it's a very difficult case to prove," Labrada added.