Cat fatally shot with air rifle
Asbury Park, NJ (US)

Incident Date: Sunday, Dec 25, 2005
County: Monmouth

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Dane Irving

A 33-year-old city man was arrested on a charge of shooting a neighbor's pet cat to death on Christmas Day, and was being interviewed by police and investigators from the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, authorities said.

Investigators had been searching for Dane Irving, who lives in an apartment on Monroe Avenue, since he shot the cat on Christmas about 9 p.m., officials said. Irving has already been charged with one count of animal cruelty. Several other Monmouth County warrants have been issued for his arrest in other cases, Capt. Victor Amato, the SPCA's chief enforcement officer said.

On December 25, 2005, Irving shot and killed a 12-year-old cat named Robbie, Amato said. The cat belonged to his neighbor, Rose Mellio, who lives in the apartment above his on Monroe Avenue, Amato said.

"What really annoyed me is that this cat was shot on Christmas Day," Amato said Wednesday. "That is the one day of the year that people are supposed to show a little compassion." Irving's apartment building is also located near a day care center, Amato said, adding that several people were upset that Irving had been firing a gun near where children go to school. Shooting cats was apparently something of a hobby for Irving, officials said. Near the apartment building, Amato said investigators found several food stations that lured feral cats from the neighborhood to the building. Once there, Amato said he found evidence that Irving took shots at them.

Irving may have mistaken his neighbor's cat for a stray and shot it with the air rifle, Amato said. The cat was taken to Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, where it died that night. Several witnesses reported seeing Irving holding the air rifle that night, Amato said. The animal cruelty charge is a fourth-degree crime that carries a possible 18-month jail term, Amato said.

References

• Asbury Park Press - December 29, 2005

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