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<p><strong>From staff reports</strong></p>
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<p>The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating an act of animal cruelty last month at the Magnolia Park Apartments in Burton. The subjects responsible have not yet been identified.</p>
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<p>On Nov. 23, Beufort County Animal Services responded to Magnolia Park Apartments at 314 Laurel Bay Road regarding a stray cat on property. Animal control officers then set a trap for the cat.</p>
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<p>When the animal control officers returned to retrieve the trap Nov. 24, they found it was missing.</p>
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<p>Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the apartment complex and, along with animal control officers, found the trap submerged in a pond on the property; the stray cat was found dead inside the trap.</p>
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<p>It was later confirmed the cause of the cat's death was drowning.</p>
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<p>The Hilton Head Human Association is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrests of those responsible.</p>
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<p>Anyone who has information is encouraged to contact Sgt. Dario Sosa at 843-255-3435 or Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111, if wishing to remain anonymous.</p>
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