Cat doused with gasoline, set on fire
Shafter, CA (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Sep 11, 2007
County: Kern
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 2 files available
Alleged: 16 year old male
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A cat found burned in Shafter on Sept. 11 is getting a second chance at life.
Shafter Animal Control picked up the injured cat that sustained injuries to its face, ears, front paws and back.
The cat, expected to recover and live a mostly normal life, is resting temporarily at the Shafter Animal Shelter.
The Best Friends Animal Society will soon arrive to rehabilitate the cat and keep it until it can be put up for adoption.
Shyanne Bozarth, Shafter City Animal Control Manager, said BFAS are the largest animal sanctuary in the U.S., specializing in rescuing and rehabilitating special needs animals.
"This is a very lucky cat that otherwise would likely have to be euthanized due to significant long-term care, healing and unsightly scarring," Bozarth said. She added, "Our small shelter does not have the resources or space to hold a cat with his needs."
A representative from BFAS will be arriving from Kanab, Utah, to pick up the cat on Saturday morning.
Anyone with further information is asked to call Animal Control Manager Shyanne Bozarth at (661) 746-2140.
Case UpdatesA 16-year-old boy accused of dousing a cat with gasoline and burning the feline alive confessed to the crime Wednesday. The Shafter Police Department arrested the juvenile on suspicion of animal cruelty and placed the suspect in juvenile hall, said Capt. Jeff Bell with Shafter police.
In September, Lucky was placed in a container that he could not get out of and covered in gasoline, Bell said. The suspect apparently lighted a match on the cat.
On Sept. 11, the feline was found with burns on his back, paws, face and ears near a home in Shafter, according to Bell.
An anonymous person tipped police about the teen suspect. Several witnesses were also able to identify the teen.
After he was arrested, the teen confessed to burning the cat, Bell said.
"I would think when someone generally confesses, there's some certain amount of remorse," Bell said.
Lucky is recuperating with an animal group in Utah, according to Bell. | Source: The Bakersfield Californian - Oct 11, 2007
Update posted on Oct 19, 2007 - 12:50AM |
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