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Case ID: 13973

Classification: Throwing

Animal: cat

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Four kittens thrown from vehicle, die
Warwick, NY (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Jun 23, 2008
County: Orange

Disposition: Open
Case Images: 1 files available

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

On Monday evening, June 23, Animal Control Officer Suzyn Barro responded to a call from the Warwick Valley Police Department.

A local resident, Debbie Parka, had reported that several kittens, approximately 12 weeks old, had just been randomly thrown from a vehicle traveling on Route 94 South between the intersection of that road and Galloway Road (Route 17A), near Dawson Motors, and ShopRite Plaza.

Parka, who was driving south along Route 94, noticed the first two kittens, still alive at the time, in the center of the road, and decided to return for them at the first opportunity by making a turn in ShopRite Plaza. She had called 9-1-1 to report the incident and then noticed a third kitten, still alive, on the road by the Plaza exit.

Before she was able to return, unidentified motorists who failed to notice or didn�t bother to stop, had run over two of the first two kittens that Parka had spotted - one near Dawson Motors on the corner of Route 17A and another by Warwick Cemetery.

The surviving kitten that she had seen at the entrance to ShopRite Plaza was taken to a veterinarian for tests and is now under observation for severe head trauma. Its injuries, according to Barron, are believed to be consistent with being thrown from a moving vehicle.

The following morning, while taking her son to school, Parka spotted a fourth kitten that had been killed by a car on Sanfordville Road. She believes it was from the same litter.

Barron, who also is president of the Warwick Valley Humane Society, said that the person or persons who threw the kittens from the vehicle could be facing three felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty.

�It�s scary to think that those who are responsible for this, live among us,� said Barron. �If anyone has any information, please contact us through our confidential cruelty complaint line at 845-987-7336 and all calls will remain confidential.�

Case Updates

MJ, the lone surviving kitten tossed from a moving vehicle along Route 94 in Warwick, died this week. The reward to find out who is responsible for the kittens' deaths is now more than $4,000.

On June 23, Suzyn Barron, president of the Warwick Valley Humane Society, rescued the lone surviving kitten out of four that had been randomly thrown from a vehicle traveling on Route 94 South and also along Sanfordville Road.

However, the surviving kitten, an approximately 13-week old orange tabby, died Tuesday from its head injuries. The kitten, named MJ by shelter staff, had been blind and in guarded condition since his rescue.

The article about the four kittens being tossed from a vehicle to their deaths first appeared in The Warwick Advertiser on June 23 and immediately caught the attention of other local media and even some Web sites across the country. It also roused the wrath of many local citizens who expressed their anger over the cruel behavior in letters to the editor (see page 12). Checks and pledges began pouring in for the reward fund that was established and offered to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Barron, who also serves as an animal control officer, warned that the person or persons who threw the kittens from the vehicle could be facing four felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty.

The maximum imprisonment for a count of aggravated animal cruelty is two years. There also is a bill in the state Assembly to increase the fine from $5,000 to $25,000.

�I have two interesting leads which I am turning over to the Orange County Sheriff�s Animal Cruelty Task Force investigator,� said Barron.

If anyone has any additional information, the animal shelter�s confidential cruelty complaint line is 845-987-7336.

Source: Warwick Advertiser - July 10, 2008
Update posted on Jul 12, 2008 - 2:44PM

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An article about kittens being tossed from a vehicle to their deaths that appeared in last week�s Warwick Advertiser has caused quite a stir in this community.

On June 23, Suzyn Barron, president of the Warwick Valley Humane Society, rescued the lone surviving kitten out of four that had been thrown from a vehicle traveling on Route 94 South and Sanfordville Road.

The surviving kitten, a 10-12 week old orange tabby now named MJ, is still under observation for head trauma.

�He�s blind and still in guarded condition,� said Barron, �but he�s eating canned food and could recover his eyesight if the brain swelling goes down.�

Meanwhile, checks and pledges are pouring in for a reward fund that is being established and offered to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the cruel act.

�The person or persons who threw the kittens from the vehicle could be facing four felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty,� said Barron, who also serves as an animal control officer.

Shortly after the article appeared in The Warwick Advertiser, Barron received a $500 offer to start a reward fund from Warwick residents Lynne Mandel and Dennis Tuck. The Warwick Valley Humane Society then added an additional $250. Checks or pledges ranging from $25 to $250 soon followed, raising the total to more than $2,000. And the phone is still ringing.

�We�ve also had people offering to adopt this kitten,� reported Barron, �but we warn them that he may have special needs if and when he recovers. However, we do have 99 others ready to be adopted.�

There are no significant leads, but someone who did see what happened has left a message on the animal shelter�s confidential cruelty complaint line at 845-987-7336. The person left her name but no phone number; all calls remain confidential.

�I would ask anyone with any information to please call us,� said Barron.

�And I would like to remind everyone that studies show that those who commit acts of animal cruelty are also more likely to commit acts of human violence in the future.�

Source: Warwick Advertiser - July 3, 2008
Update posted on Jul 7, 2008 - 7:26PM

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A kitten that survived a gruesome act of animal cruelty that killed three other kittens last week faces an uncertain recovery as animal control officers try to figure out who's responsible.

M.J., an 8- or 9-week-old orange tabby, suffered brain trauma when he was tossed from a moving vehicle onto Route 94 in Warwick.

According to witnesses, he was one of four cats tossed from the vehicle at various points on the roadway. The others were hit by vehicles and killed.

The cat's prognosis is "guarded," said Suzyn Barron, Warwick's animal control officer and president of the Warwick Valley Humane Society.

"We really don't know if he's going to survive the next day or two or if he'll have any long-term disability," she said. "When you're dealing with head trauma, it's touch and go every day."

M.J.'s vision is impaired and he's getting intravenous fluids every day but he was feisty Tuesday morning, drinking from his water bowl and hissing when Barron tried to touch his feet.

Although several people saw the cats in the road, officials have no solid leads on who may have thrown them there.

To inspire people to come forward, a Warwick village couple is offering a $500 reward. The Humane Society is putting up $250.

"This crime is so despicable," said Lynne Mandel, who with her husband, Dennis Tuck, is offering $500 from their economic stimulus check. "I can't get the vision of these innocent little kittens being tossed out of a car and squished on the road out of my mind."

If any suspects are found, they could face four counts of felony animal cruelty, Barron said.

"It's frightening, to know people like this live among us," she said. "It's sad because we know that animal cruelty and abuse often go hand in hand with human violence."

Barron asked anyone who may have information to call the shelter's confidential abuse hot line at 987-7336.

Source: Record Online - July 2, 2008
Update posted on Jul 2, 2008 - 3:17PM

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Four kittens thrown from vehicle, dieWarwick, NY (US)

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Four kittens thrown from vehicle, die
Warwick, NY (US)