PALMETTO BAY, Fla. -- Residents of Palmetto Bay plan to hold a community meeting to discuss what to do about a string of cat killings in their neighborhood.

Miami-Dade police said that since April, 33 cases involving dead cats have been reported. Eighteen of the cases, which involved a total of 19 dead cats, have been confirmed as animal cruelty, police said. Those cases happened in Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Kendall.

Three more cats were found dead in a Palmetto Bay neighborhood on Friday morning. However, police determined that a pack of dogs killed the animals.

Wayne Edwards transformed his backyard into a playground for his cats. He had 17 of the animals, but he is down to 16 after one was found slain and mutilated in a neighbor's front lawn.

"Why come here in this area and kill innocent cats? They are not doing anybody any harm," Edwards said.

Edwards and some other Palmetto Bay residents have taken matters into their own hands, hitting the streets in search of whoever is responsible for the cats' deaths. Edwards has organized a neighborhood patrol that he said would continue until a suspect is arrested.

"There's a couple of us right now. I would like to see more people get involved," Edwards said.

A town hall meeting is being held in Palmetto Bay on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. to discuss the cats' killings. It will be held at the Coral Reef Park Community Room at 7895 SW 152nd St. in Palmetto Bay.

Police Receive 60-Plus Tips Thursday

Three cats were found slain in Palmetto Bay on Thursday morning, and police said the cat killings that began in April are growing more violent.

Chloe, a striped 12-year-old tabby cat, was discovered Thursday morning with her body chopped into pieces. Her owner, Joylene Ceballos, cried when she heard the news.

"I grew up with that cat, and then you wake up one morning and it's murdered. It’s a sick, twisted crime for no reason," Ceballos said.

Chloe was among three cats found killed Thursday in the same Palmetto Bay neighborhood. Each cat was placed in plain sight for residents to find.

"It's just really awful. It is really, really an awful sight," Ceballos said.

Investigators believe a group of people could be responsible for the cat killings.

"These individuals are very inhumane. These are innocent animals. It's a very cowardly act. We are actively working this case to bring closure to this," said Detective Aida Fina-Milian of the Miami-Dade Police Department.

Meanwhile, Crime Stoppers received more than 60 tips on Thursday, leading police to persons of interest, but no arrests have been made.

"They have no heart," Ceballos said.

Police Officer's Cat Among Those Killed

Five cats were discovered slain Wednesday in Palmetto Bay. Three cats' bodies were found Wednesday morning near Southwest 87th Avenue and 146th Street, Local 10's Jen Herrera reported.

"I just saw some people with the animal police taking out cats in garbage bags and putting them inside the truck, and I heard just two days ago there was another one in Palmetto Bay, where they skinned a cat," said witness Matthew Edminsten. "If they're killing cats around here, hopefully I see this guy doing it."

At about noon, a cat belonging to a police officer was found killed on a front lawn.

"Everyone in the neighborhood knows it's a police officer's house. Another police officer lives right across the street. It's just crazy someone has the nerve to do this," resident Michael Miller told Herrera.

A woman who lives near Southwest 160th Street and 84th Avenue found a fifth cat's body in her front yard on Wednesday afternoon. At about 4 p.m., the resident went for a walk and didn't see the cat. She returned an hour later to find the cat's body, which she believes was thrown into her yard in broad daylight.

Families are on edge as the cat killings continue in Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Kendall.

"It's scary. I've got three cats. I think the whole thing is absolutely bizarre," said resident Robert Holley. "I can't believe somebody can cruise up and down or not be seen as suspicious. It's really eerie."

If you have any information that can help police catch whoever is responsible, call Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477)

The reward for information leading to an arrest in the case is up to $12,000.

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