Bend man charged in hanging of neighbor’s cat

A northeast Bend pet owner is mourning the loss of her beloved cat after it was found dead last week, hanging from her fence.

Shannon Garza, who lives on Sixth and Franklin, said her cat, named Sweetie, loved to roam the backyard until she was allegedly killed by Garza’s neighbor and left hanging from the fence between their homes.

“We think he (the neighbor) may have hit her, beat her severely and than hung her over the fence, and that is where she was found,” Garza said Thursday.

Garza said Sweetie and another cat would love to roam her backyard and neighborhood, but would always come back home at night.

Police were called to the home and said they arrested Glenn William Lacoss, 55, after he told them he killed the cat because it was scratching his trees.

Investigators said Lacoss told police he was upset there were feral cats in his backyard.

Lacoss was booked into the Deschutes County Jail and is facing one count of aggravated animal abuse. He later posted bail and was released.

Garza said her neighbor had many traps set up in his backyard.

She said she doesn’t want to see another animal killed and hopes pet owners will keep a close eye after hearing her story.

“Please watch your animals and know your neighbors very well. I wouldn’t want to see somebody else lose their animal like I did,” Garza said.

Bend police said the investigation is ongoing.

Lacoss is scheduled to appear in court on the animal abuse charge next Wednesday.