Cat wrapped in rubber bands, maggot infested
San Jose, CA (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Oct 12, 2008
County: Santa Clara
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
Until somebody tied rubber bands around his feet and neck, Mo was a much-loved cat at Tanglewood Apartments in San Jose.
The black 6-year-old cat depended on the kindness of various residents for food and was never known to scratch anyone. Now, animal control is trying to find out who tortured him.
"He was a very sweet beloved cat and was purring when we euthanized him," said Julie St Gregory, spokeswoman for San Jose Animal Care and Services. "The maggots had eaten too much of his flesh."
Several residents called animal control after finding Mo in distress. The first thing the officer noticed was how swollen Mo's feet were.
"The rubber bands placed around his feet and tail were black so they were hard to recognize," St Gregory said. "The two rubber bands around his neck were brown. There were maggots on one of his feet."
St Gregory said animal services cannot offer a reward in the case because they are a city agency.
"We moved to the complex in April and he kind of adopted us," said Megan Jones. "We started feeding him and he walked right in like he owned the place."
Jones said she last saw Mo on Sunday, when he "came into our apartment and ate a little bit of food." On Saturday, "he was acting skittish," she said, "not like himself at all. Every time he heard kids playing, he got really scared and low to the ground."
Mo was found with a blue nylon dog collar around his neck. It had been placed on him recently, residents said, and covered the rubber bands around his neck.
Anyone with information about what happened to Mo should call Animal Care Services at (408) 578-PAWS. If you have information on this case, please contact:
Animal Services
(408) 578-PAWS
Case UpdatesThe reward fund to help track down the person who tortured Mo the cat at a San Jose apartment complex has jumped to $3,200.
Local residents immediately offered to donate $700 for the fund and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), a national animal rights organization, offered to kick in up to $2,500 for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the person who tightly tied rubber bands around Mo's paws, neck and tail.
By the time residents at Tanglewood Apartments found Mo last week, maggots had destroyed too much of his tissue and the 6-year-old black cat had to be euthanized at San Jose Animal Care and Services.
Samantha Moore of Los Gatos posted fliers about the reward fund at the apartment complex Wednesday, and she said residents seemed more hopeful the torturer would be found.
"Everyone had a Mo story to tell," Moore said. "This was a very friendly and loving cat. It's really a shame."
After stories about Mo in the Mercury News and several calls from the public, a non-profit group of volunteers that helps raise money for San Jose Animal Care and Services offered to set up a reward fund. The shelter cannot because it is a city agency, a spokeswoman said.
Donations are tax deductible. Volunteers with PAWS 4 SJACS hope contributors will agree to let the money go to the shelter's veterinary fund if the person who tortured Mo cannot be found.
Checks should be made out to PAWS for SJACS, with Mo fund in the memo portion of the check, and mailed to: PAWS for SJACS, 2633 S. Bascom Ave., Campbell, Calif. 95008.
"Research shows that cowards who are violent to animals often move on to harm humans," Martin Mersereau, director of PETA's emergency response team, said in a letter. "For everyone's sake, let us hope that the sadistic person(s) who tortured" Mo will be "quickly apprehended." | Source: Mercury News - Oct 22, 2008
Update posted on Oct 24, 2008 - 11:35AM |
The torture of a friendly San Jose cat named Mo has touched the hearts of cat lovers in Silicon Valley who this week offered more than $700 in reward money for information that could lead to the arrest of whoever tied rubber bands around the cat's paws, tail and neck.
Mo, who was 6 years old and a bit of a mascot at Tanglewood Apartments in San Jose, had to be euthanized because of the tissue damage caused by the rubber bands cutting off circulation.
"The story just disturbed me all weekend," said Samantha Moore of Los Gatos, who will add $100 to the reward fund. "I can't remotely understand intentional cruelty toward something helpless and would love these guys caught, even if they're just kids."
Tom Sullivan has two cats, but said he wanted to contribute $500 to a reward fund because it was the right thing to do - and the former check-cashing store owner is known for helping others in a pinch. A shelter spokeswoman told the Mercury News on Friday that San Jose Animal Care and Services can't offer a reward because it is a city agency.
So Sullivan, Moore and others offered to step in. Details of the fund were being worked out this week.
"I read the story in the Mercury News with a sad and heavy heart," said Jane Bauldry. "I would like to take up a collection among my friends to start a reward."
As the Mercury News reported Friday, Mo had depended on the kindness of various residents at Tanglewood for his meals and pats on the head. He was in good shape and his black fur was sleek - until last week.
The rubber bands someone placed on him were black and brown and hard to notice. By the time residents noticed he could not lift one of his paws, it was almost too late. Maggots had eaten away too much of his flesh.
Several residents called animal control, but no one has called with any tips to help identify who hurt Mo.
Anyone with information about what happened to Mo was asked to call animal care services at (408) 578-PAWS. | Source: Mercury News - Oct 21, 2008
Update posted on Oct 24, 2008 - 11:34AM |
References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Santa Clara County, CA
|
