INDIANAPOLIS -- Animal control officers are investigating the death of several cats in an east side neighborhood.

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Animal Control Officers Investigating

Residents in the area of 30th Street and Franklin Road said at least 12 cats have reportedly died after drinking a mixture of water and antifreeze placed in a man's front yard.

Nobody has been arrested for the incidents. Animal control officers confirmed that they've launched investigation into what may be a series of animal cruelty cases," RTV6's Sy Jenkins reported.

Tanya Hawkins took her cat to the veterinarian after he got sick.

"He was getting sick, seizures and had lost all functions of being able to walk," Hawkins said.

The veterinarian told Hawkins that it appeared the cat had drunk antifreeze, and had to put the cat to sleep, Jenkins reported.

The neighbor acknowledged that he put antifreeze and rat poison on his front lawn, but that he did it to eliminate rats, Jenkins reported.

The neighbor also apologized for the deaths, but said the pet owners contributed to the deaths by letting them run loose.

But Melanie Porter said the neighbor had threatened to kill cats in the area with antifreeze because they were defecating on his lawn.

"He said he was gonna tell animal control that he was gonna keep putting it out until all the cats are dead," Porter said.

Animal control officials have told the residents to keep their pets on a leash when they're outside, Jenkins reported.