Pennsylvania man accused of 'fishing for cats' with baited hooks at vacant home

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Kenny Rowles, 27, faces charges of animal cruelty in Luzerne County.

PLYMOUTH, Pa. - A Pennsylvania man accused of baiting cats with food on fishhooks is facing animal cruelty charges in Luzurne County.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says a stray cat was found April 8 in a vacant house with three fishhooks in their mouth. The cat was treated and survived. Two other cats were spotted with fishing line coming out of their mouths.

Officials say that a woman reported her neighbor a day earlier for allegedly holding a fishing pole on his second-floor porch, saying he was about to start "fishing for cats."

Kenny Rowles, 27, of Plymouth, faces charges including aggravated cruelty to animals involving torture and serious bodily injury.

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Two local rescues, Happy Hearts & Tails Safe Haven Animal Rescue and Whiskers World, have been working together to treat the affected cats, who were among more than a dozen reportedly abandoned in the vacant home after their owners were evicted. A GoFundMe has been set up on their behalf to help with the joint rescue effort.

Rowles remains jailed on 10% of $100,000 bail while awaiting a preliminary court hearing.

Court documents don't list a defense attorney; a message left at a number listed for Rowles wasn't immediately returned.