Pennsylvania man, 27, who 'fished' for cats with baited hooks pleads guilty to animal cruelty after three animals were found with horrific injuries

  • Kenny Rowles, of Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges Monday
  • He was arrested in May after rescuers found stray cat with fishhook in its mouth
  • At the time, two more cats were found with fishing lines hanging from mouths 
  • Rowles admitted putting meat on fishing line and dangling it from his back porch for cats at an abandoned property near his home in Plymouth 
  • Officials said he will be sentenced on December 2 at Luzerne County courthouse

A Pennsylvania man, who 'fished' for cats with baited hooks that he placed in their food, has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges. 

Kenny Rowles, 27, entered his guilty plea for aggravated cruelty to animals involving torture and serious bodily injury on Monday in Luzerne County. 

Rowles will be sentenced on December 2 at the Luzerne County courthouse. 

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Rowles apparently told neighbors about his cruel actions and called it 'fishing for cats'

Rowles apparently told neighbors about his cruel actions and called it 'fishing for cats'

His guilty plea comes months after he was arrested for the aforementioned animal cruelty charges in May. 

Authorities said they first started investigating Rowles in April after they got a call about the case. 

On April 8, The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reported finding a stray cat in a vacant house in Plymouth with a fishhook in its mouth. 

The cat was treated and survived but suffered visible scarring around its mouth. 

At the time, two other cats were found with fishing lines coming out of their mouths, according to Happy Hearts and Tails Safe Haven Animal Rescue. 

Humane officers then received a call from Whiskers World Cat Rescue that Rowles was baiting cats with fish hooks and bragging about it to neighbors.  

This photo shows a cat named Tollie who was rescued from a house near Rowles' property

This photo shows a cat named Tollie who was rescued from a house near Rowles' property

Tollie was rescued by Happy Hearts and Tails Safe Haven Animal Rescue and underwent surgery
Tollie has sense fully recovered

Tollie was rescued by Happy Hearts and Tails Safe Haven Animal Rescue and underwent surgery in April. He is now fully recovered 

An image shows a baited triple fishing hook and string hanging from a bowl where one of the cats was eating at a vacant property near where Rowles lived

An image shows a baited triple fishing hook and string hanging from a bowl where one of the cats was eating at a vacant property near where Rowles lived 

This stray cat was rescued by animal advocates
One cat that was rescued by advocates
This cat was rescued by animal advocates

At the time, other stray cats (pictured) were found with fishing lines coming out of their mouths, according to Happy Hearts and Tails Safe Haven Animal Rescue

A veterinarian is seen pointing to the face of a cat who had a hook stuck in its mouth
Rowles claimed that he used baited triple fishing hooks (pictured) and string to feed the cats

During an interview with police and animal welfare officers on April 9, Rowles claimed that he used baited triple fishing hooks (right) and string to feed the cats

During an interview with police and animal welfare officers on April 9, Rowles claimed that he used baited triple fishing hooks and string to feed the cats. 

A criminal complaint stated that Rowles admitted to using scraps of meat on a fish hook tied to a string that he hung from his rear porch to feed and play with cats. 

At the time, a woman also reported that her neighbor was holding a fishing pole on his second-floor porch saying he was about to start 'fishing for cats'. 

Rowles also cried in front of welfare officers when he was told there was a cat with a fish hook caught in its mouth.  

A criminal complaint stated that Rowles admitted to using scraps of meat on a fish hook tied to a string that he hung from his rear porch to feed and play with cats

A criminal complaint stated that Rowles admitted to using scraps of meat on a fish hook tied to a string that he hung from his rear porch to feed and play with cats

One of the cats is named Tollie, who was rescued from the vacant residence by Happy Hearts and Tails Safe Haven Animal Rescue.

Tollie underwent surgery to remove the triple prong fish hook and string at Wilkes-Barre Animal Hospital.

Dawn Mandygral, who runs Happy Hearts and Tails Safe, said in April that the cat was among 15 felines left around an abandoned house when their owners were evicted. 

She told WNEP back in April: 'There was a string with a hook, and then he put food on it, dangling for the cat and the cat ate it. He deliberately - he was fishing for cats. That's what he said.'

Humane officers claimed that they only found one cat with a baited triple fishing hook in its mouth despite there being several at the property.

Luzerne County Humane Officer Lisa Devlin said other stray cats in a vacant building next to Rowles’ residence were found unharmed.

Mandygra told the Times Leader in May: 'The charges are very serious, it was very harmful to the cat. I’m thankful that the justice system will step in now and get justice for Tollie.

'The intent was a little bit concerning. Neglect is one thing but the intent to intentionally harm and knowingly, just like the law says, it’s concerning.' 

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