Couple charged after cat found with paws wrapped, bound together in Canyon Country

CANYON COUNTRY, SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (KABC) -- A couple was charged with possession of heroin and animal cruelty Wednesday after sheriff's deputies found a cat with its paws bound together with electrical tape in their car in Canyon Country, prosecutors said.

Tyler Scott Vest, 23, of Valencia and Kylie Stringer, 26, of Canyon Country were arrested Saturday night after sheriff's deputies searched their parked car near Sand Canyon and Soledad Canyon roads.

The suspects were found to be in possession of heroin, and the cat was allegedly found tied and bound together in a pet carrier container buried upside-down inside the vehicle.

"It was not happy. That's what was attracting our attention, something kind of calling to us," said Adam Halloran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Vest and Stringer were both charged with one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty Wednesday. Vest also faces one felony count of possession of heroin with intent to sell, and Stringer faces an additional misdemeanor charge for possession of heroin.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said Vest and Stringer are scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.