Man arrested after 7 cats surrendered at the SPCA in a sealed bin and zipped-up suitcase, 6 dead upon arrival

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Man arrested after 7 cats surrendered at the SPCA in a sealed bin and zipped-up suitcase, 6 dead upon arrival

Deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested 36-year-old Ian Bender of Ozona and charged him with seven counts of Animal Cruelty. According to court documents, Bender brought 7 cats to the SPCA at 9099 130th Avenue n to surrender them. Five cats were in a plastic bin with the lid on, and two were in a small zipped-up suitcase. No holes were cut in the bin or suitcase to allow airflow for a living animal. 5 of the cats were dead u…