Cat burned to death Kirtland, NM (US) Incident Date: Tuesday, Feb 7, 2006 County: San Juan Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abuser/Suspect: Michael Shirley

Case ID: 8065 Classification: Burning - Fire or Fireworks Animal: cat View more cases in NM (US) Drugs or alcohol involved Login to Watch this Case

A 22-year-old man pleaded guilty to cruelty to animals on March 20, admitting to killing the family cat and throwing it into a fire.

During his arraignment in District Court this week, Michael Shirley told Judge John Dean that he "threw the cat into the fire" after drinking at his brother Elijah Shirley's Kirtland home.

Michael Shirley had been charged with extreme cruelty to animals, a fourth-degree felony, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor.

According to state law, cruelty to animals includes "intentionally or maliciously torturing, mutilating, injuring or poisoning an animal or maliciously killing an animal."

Michael Shirley was arrested by New Mexico State Police Feb. 7 after authorities were referred to a domestic violence call at 11:47 p.m. on County Road 6363, court documents state.

When police arrived, they noticed Michael Shirley walking along the roadway without a shirt and with an injury to his left eye. Shirley told police the injury was a result of a fist fight with his brother.

"Mr. Elijah Shirley told (police) he had been sleeping and his girlfriend, Valerie Jim, woke him and told him Mr. Michael Shirley had killed the family cat and threw it in the fireplace," according to court documents.

"Mr. Elijah Shirley told (police) he smelled a bad odor, got out of bed and went to see what was burning," court documents state.

The brothers then reportedly got into a verbal argument that escalated. Elijah Shirley then struck Michael Shirley and injured his eye.

After police arrived on scene, the arresting officer noticed the dead cat, covered with a towel and laying atop a metal drum outside the residence, according to court documents.

Jim told police she was unaware whether the cat was deceased before Michael Shirley placed it into the fire.

Although this appeared to be a "rare" case, District Attorney Lyndy Bennett said animal abuse cases occur on a regular basis within the county.

"This case was a little bit different because it was a domestic violence (incident)," Bennett said. "However, we have been vigorously prosecuting animal cases."

Bennett said most animal abuse cases prosecuted deal with neglected livestock and horses.

"We probably have a steady flow of that. Those are certainly part of our criminal cases and we are going to prosecute them," Bennett said.

"We don't ignore them. We give them a lot of attention."

Traci Fletcher, vice president for the Humane Society of the Four Corners, encouraged the public to intervene and report any signs of animal cruelty.

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References

Farmington Daily Times - March 25, 2006

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