Are black cats at risk on Halloween on the Texas-Mexico border?

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Old Satanic myths die hard, especially in the US-Mexico borderland.

The Animal Welfare Center of Juárez announced earlier this month that it is suspending cat adoptions in October to prevent cats from being sacrificed in occult rituals during the Halloween season. It’s a warning that American animal welfare groups now widely say is misguided, unnecessary and stems from urban myths.

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In an October 15 news release from the city of Juárez, a municipal official noted that this was the time of year when “animal deaths are supposed to occur, especially cats used for sacrifices and other dangerous activities.” “.

Officials asked residents not to remove the cats and to take precautions to care for their pets to protect them from harm and “being used for evil.”

Archives: Goats found dead in the El Paso desert were killed in an animal sacrifice ritual in New Mexico.

October bans on adopting cats, especially black or white cats, used to be common in the United States years ago, especially during the “satanic scare” of the 1980s due to widespread child abuse and human trafficking. And with animal sacrifice conspiracies.

El Paso Animal Control and the El Paso Humane Society suspended adoptions of black or white dogs and cats in October 2005 “to prevent animal abuse during Halloween,” El Paso Times archives show.

Do people kill black cats on Halloween?

Michelle Anderson, manager of marketing and public engagement for El Paso Animal Services, said there is no evidence of black cats being adopted for nefarious reasons and no increase in animal cruelty cases linked to October or Halloween activities in El Paso. Hasn’t happened.

He said since at least 2016, when Anderson joined the department, there has been no local suspension of adoptions of black or white dogs and cats during October.

Anderson said national animal welfare organizations now widely consider it an urban myth that devil worshipers commit to sacrifice or torture in blood rituals around Halloween.

“There are many superstitions that follow black cats (or black animals in general) that are just that — superstitions,” Anderson said in an email.

The El Paso Police Department’s Animal Cruelty Investigation Unit is a specialized team of detectives that handles a variety of animal cruelty cases. This unit was built in 2017. The Animal Cruelty Investigation Unit has not come across any cases of cat sacrifices, police spokesperson Det. Judy Oviedo said.

The most shocking crime involving a cat occurred in July when an El Paso man suspected of being mentally ill allegedly stabbed a cat with a screwdriver, ripped it from his hands and five Start eating his guts in the parking lot at points.

Animal welfare groups have said that cats are no more at risk on Halloween than on any other day. The sad truth is that animal cruelty and neglect happens all year round, not necessarily because of cults or Halloween.

How to Keep Pets Safe on Halloween

Halloween can be stressful for pets, with strangers walking around, doorbells ringing and trick-or-treating at parties. El Paso Animal Services offers the following tips for keeping furry friends safe:

  • Make sure pets have an ID tag and a collar with updated microchip information if they go outside during trick-or-treating or opening the door at parties.
  • Create a safe place for pets (include favorite toys) in a quiet room away from hustle and bustle to reduce stress and keep them safe.
  • Keep candy out of reach. Chocolate and sugar-free candies are toxic to pets. Candy wrappers can pose a choking hazard.
  • If a pet isn’t comfortable in clothing, don’t force them to wear it. Make sure the clothing allows them to move freely.
  • Keep lit candles, jack-o’-lanterns and electrical cords away from curious pets. Pet can be injured by chewing or knocking over decorations.

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