Firecracker set off in cat's mouth
Bakersfield, CA (US)Incident Date: Monday, Oct 30, 2006
County: Kern
Disposition: Open
Case Images: 4 files available
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
The discovery of a tortured cat, left to die in a south Bakersfield neighborhood, had nearby residents afraid to leave their children unattended.
Psychologists said the parents should be afraid because any person who is capable of abusing an animal to such a degree is oftentimes not far from inflicting pain on humans.
Chynece Smith said finding a tortured cat would be disturbing for anyone.
"It looked like they set off a firecracker in its mouth, and it looks like his tail was cut off," Smith said.
To Smith's 11-year-old daughter, who saw the dead animal first, the discovery was alarming.
"She was crying. She did not want to walk to school. She ran home and told me, 'You got to come see this cat!'" said Smith. "This cat has duct tape around its neck and she saw a skateboard around the corner with the same tape around it, and wanted to know if it could possibly be related."
"When we see animal cruelty like that, fire setting, lack of empathy like that prior to age adult onset is what we call conduct disorder," said psychologist Corey Gonzales.
Gonzales said the disorder, if left untreated, often develops into sociopathic behavior.
Sociopaths are callous to others' pain, whether its an animal or another human being. Their ability to be cruel to animals increases their likelihood of being just as cruel to human beings.
"They gain some sense of empowerment out of it," Gonzales said. "Something they tend to enjoy or get pleasure from."
Gonzales said these torturers often turn out to be abuse victims themselves.
"They've been violated early in their life, and when they violate others, they tend to create this unconscious balance," he said.
Animal control officers said animal cruelty charges can range from a misdemeanor to felony depending on the nature of the abuse. No suspects in this case have been located.
Case UpdatesA reward has been increased to help find the person or persons responsible for torturing and killing a cat in south Bakersfield last month.
An anonymous person from Tulare County has added $1,000 to the $2,500 reward already being offered by the organization In Defense of Animals.
The reward is now up to $3,500 for the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the cat's death.
If you have any information, you are urged to call animal control. | Source: KGET - Nov 9, 2006
Update posted on Nov 13, 2006 - 10:13AM |
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