Janice Lawniczak, the Butler County Humane Officer, holds one of three animal carriers found to be holding five dead cats and one live cat. The grisly discovery was made in Winfield Township, and the neighbor of the couple who discovered the carriers on their property will be charged with five felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty resulting in death. Lawniczak called the scene "disgusting" and "reprehensible."

WINFIELD TWP — Butler County Humane Officer Janice Lawniczak will charge a woman with five felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty resulting in death, after three animal carriers containing five dead cats and one live cat were found by a property owner on Bear Creek Road.

Lawniczak said John McCall of Bear Creek Road found the carriers on Monday on his property. Upon viewing the grisly sight, his wife, Stacey, recognized the carriers as belonging to the daughter of her 74-year-old neighbor.

Stacey said her husband found the carriers in a remote, wooded part of the couple's 3-acre property, which is bisected by Bear Creek. She said small stuffed animals had also been placed in the carriers.

The situation marks the first time Lawniczak has filed felony charges since signing on as county humane officer one year ago.

This is an excerpt — read the full report in Wednesday's Butler Eagle.