Cat thrown against wall, jaw broken
Wheat Ridge, CO (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008
County: Jefferson
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Ian James Whitlock
At the Jefferson County Jail is Ian James Whitlock, 26, who was arrested early Wednesday morning after a fight with his girlfriend in Wheat Ridge ended in his arrest for investigation on a series of charges including felony animal cruelty, DUI, harassment, possession of drug paraphernalia and a schedule-one narcotic, and menacing.
Lisa Stigall, a spokeswoman said "allegedly, there was an argument between the couple and the female in this domestic violence situation was fearful for her safety. She left the home, and she left the animals behind in the house.
Whitlock, she said, "went after her and told her that if she didn't return to the house, then he was going to hurt one of the animals. She did not return to the house, and subsequently, he did go back and seriously injured one of the cats. Allegedly, he threw the cat against the wall, injured him internally, and broke the jaw and did some serious damage."
Whitlock is being held on a $50,000 bond, and is due to have charges filed against him Tuesday.
Elisa Mazzaferro, director of emergency services at the Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, where a dog allegedly burned by his owner the week before was treated and Sid is now a patient, said of the cat, "He had head trauma, he was in shock, and later analysis found a suspected jaw fracture. He's unable to close his mouth, right now."
It's important that the jaw be fixed, Mazzaferro said, because if a cat can't close its mouth, it can't eat.
Although Mazzaferro expects Sid to survive, she said, "We don't know the full extent of his injuries. It's going to require anesthesia, and X-Rays -- possibly a C-T scan."
Sid's owner has expressed concern about being able to pay for his full treatment, which oculd easily run into four-figures.
"Because we don't know the full extent of his injuries I don't know exactly what it's going to cost at this time," said Mazzaferro. "It is an injury that he most likely will survive, but it it requires care to do so." References |
