Serial Pet Killer Panics: From the Yorkshire Dog Poisoner to the Croydon Cat Killer

This chapter examines serial pet killing panics and their historical antecedents which typically begin with a cluster of seemingly mysterious deaths that are reported in the media. Frustrated with perceived police inaction, concerned citizens collect cases and share them with news outlets which often produce emotional stories. The perpetrator who is almost always assumed to be male is commonly given a nickname that further cements their reality, as does the inevitable speculation on his motives and concern he will move on to killing people. Campaigns to catch the culprit are launched. Publicity surrounding these events leads to more reports of dead and missing pets. The scare eventually subsides amid increasing police and media skepticism. Outbreaks reflect prevailing anxieties about the threat posed by certain pets if they are allowed to roam free.