Cats found severed in half in East Naples neighborhood

FLORIDA -- A bizarre case of animal cruelty in one East Naples neighborhood has residents on edge.  Three cats have been found chopped in half -- all within the last two weeks. The Collier County Sheriff's Office is now involved.

Some of the dismembered remains have ended up in an empty lot while others were dumped in the street.

Barbara Foelske found the first cat two weeks ago.  She recognized it as Sophie -- neighbor Terry Bolle's cat from down the street.

"This is very scary," said resident Terry Bolle.  "She doesn't usually go this far.  I actually thought it was a rabbit because it was just her backside.  I looked closer, and then I couldn't look anymore."

The lower half of the cat was found around the block in an empty lot.  Neighbors say all three cats were cut the same way.

Taylor Wheeler's mom noticed her cat was missing.  It turned up dead yesterday.

"Highly upsetting...makes you really angry," said resident Taylor Wheeler.

Foelske says her husband found part of a third cat this morning.  Now, the sheriff's office and Animal Services are involved.

"When the deputy responded to the call, he said it definitely was a machete or an ax," said Bolle.

Neighbors want people to know.  They are hanging up flyers to send their own message to the person behind the gruesome crimes.

"It says 'alert...three cats have been found in our neighborhood killed and cut in half,'" said Foelske.

"God forbid it's someone in the neighborhood.  That's the worst thought or the worst feeling," said Bolle.

The sheriff's office entered this as a misdemeanor crime.  Owners know they're not supposed to let their cats roam around.  Everyone we spoke with said their pets will be locked indoors tonight.

(NBC 2 Fort Myers - May 01, 2015)