Kitten set on fire, cut with glass, beaten
Kalamazoo, MI (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Jul 13, 2007
County: Kalamazoo

Disposition: Open

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Kalamazoo County Animal Services officers responded to a call of three juveniles carrying a cat wrapped in a towel.

"Jake" has become the favorite patient at Sprinkle Road Veterinary Clinic. He does his best to love on the doctor and attendants. They give him plenty of attention.

Three boys brought him to a neighbor's house after they say someone tried to burn him alive.

"They claim another juvenile poured lighter fluid on it, set it on fire. Also cut it with glass, broken glass and hit it with something heavy and kicked the kitten," said Steve Lawrence of Kalamazoo County Animal Services.

Gino Burnette was on duty Friday night. He's worked a number of animal cruelty cases. This one shook him up. It was as tough as any he's been called to.

"Once I got there, the cat was wrapped in a towel. Upon observing the cat, it was quite burned, in a lot of pain," said Burnette.

Jake was sedated and cleaned up at the veterinary clinic. His wounds are healing nicely, but he's not out of the woods yet. Skin is peeling off the burned area. That is natural, but it also opens him up to infection. Medicine is doing the trick, but good old fashioned love might be better right now.

"He has a really good spirit. Each day we come back to Jake and pet him. Just to see how he is and see how his progress is coming," said Dr. Charity Koons.

The vet also said Jake dove right into his food. That's a good sign.

KDPS and the prosecutor's office are still reviewing the case.

References

• « MI State Animal Cruelty Map

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