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Case ID: 17023
Classification: Throwing
Animal: cat
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Foster cat thrown against ceiling
St. Paul, MN (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Dec 4, 2010
County: Ramsey

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Not Charged

Person of Interest: Reece Christian Donahue

A foster "parent" to a cat was arrested this weekend after he allegedly threw the feline against his St. Paul ceiling.

Police found the 2-year-old cat, Ophelia, cowering in a living-room closet, said Andy Skoogman, St. Paul police spokesman. She had fresh blood on her nose and mouth, he said.

Ophelia, who is now back at the North St. Paul shelter where she came from, was "limping and disorientated on Saturday," the day she was injured, said Ellen Johnson, a board member at Caring For Cats, a nonprofit, no-kill shelter.

"I'm happy to report today she is eating, using her litter box and seeming to be normal," Johnson said today of the tortoiseshell mix. "She's been checked out medically and, as far as we can tell ... she seems to be OK."

Reece Christian Donahue, 23, was booked into the Ramsey County jail on suspicion of animal cruelty. He has not been charged and was released from jail this morning.

Donahue's roommate called police about 8 a.m. Saturday and reported that Donahue had been drinking and was throwing objects around the apartment at 1276 Wilson Ave., Skoogman said. At that point, "she was unclear about what objects he was throwing because she was hiding in her bedroom," he said.

Officers arrived and took Donahue into custody.

"He had several fresh scratches on his arms that officers believed were very likely caused by the cat," Skoogman said.

Police found a tuft of cat hair stuck in the popcorn ceiling, Skoogman said. Donahue's roommate had "heard him scream at one point that he had thrown the cat into the ceiling," he said.

The roommate and officers called the cat, but couldn't find her until officers found her in the closet.

Police had arrested Donahue on Oct. 26, on suspicion of criminal damage to property. Alcohol was also said to play a role in that case, which involved Donahue allegedly damaging the cars of his girlfriend and another person in the parking lot of the same apartment building, Skoogman said.

Donahue had been caring for Ophelia for about a month, Johnson said.

"The suspect came to us and said he wanted to foster a cat," she said. "He checked out. We have a very thorough interview process with both foster and adoptive parents. He seemed just fine. We had no idea what would subsequently happen."

Donahue's roommate contacted the shelter and returned the cat after his arrest Saturday, Johnson said.

"We're very pleased to see the police enforcing the animal cruelty laws," she said. "We are aware that there's a lot of this sort of thing going on and it isn't dealt with. It's wonderful that the St. Paul police department is taking action on this."

Ophelia is in isolation at the shelter and a vet will check her out again, Johnson said. The shelter will look for another foster home, or someone to adopt her. People who are interested can contact Caring For Cats at 651-407-8485.

References

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