Mo. Man Charged With Burning Kitten

Drudge | July 16 | AP

[SLB]

LIBERTY, Mo.- A man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly burning a kitten on a barbecue grill as several other people stood around and watched in amusement.

A witness pulled the scorched, 7-week-old tabby from the hot coals, but it was severely injured and had to be put to death, police said.

"They kept saying, `Meow, meow,' and they were poking at it with a stick," said Sherry Scott, who burned her hand grabbing the kitten.

Charles C. Benoit, 24, was charged with animal abuse, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. He was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Jim Roberts, spokesman for the Clay County prosecutor's office, said he does not expect anyone else to be charged, because no witnesses could identify the others.

Scott said that on Friday night, she saw 10 or 12 people at the barbecue grill in the courtyard of the apartment complex where she lives. Scott said she asked what they were cooking, and they said it was a cat. She said the group taunted her, daring her to rescue the cat.

She said the group scattered when she threatened to call police. She said she pulled the kitten from where it had been shoved into the coals at the back of the grill. Its tail, whiskers, fur, eyes and throat were scorched.

"I called him Lucky because I thought I got him out of there just in time," she said.

Scott said she and other residents stayed up Friday night trying to nurse the kitten with an eye dropper of milk. But animal control officers decided that because of its respiratory injuries and inability to swallow food, it had to be destroyed.

"If you would have seen him, you would have cried," said Sheri Simpson, one of the residents who helped care for the kitten.

[Khepera]

Hard to tell.

[baseballfanjm]

Bears would do the job too quick. I'd tie him up, dunk him in water, cover him in sugar, and then disturb the biggest hornets' or bees' nest I could find, then repeat the process. A max of five years is a slap on the wrist for a guy like this.

[Sloth]

I don't either, but I believe as humans we have a God (or nature if you prefer) given responsibility not to mistreat them. It is one thing to shoot a deer that you will butcher and eat. It is another to inflict as much pain as possible on a deer and then walk away... That is one of the many factors that separate us from all other animals.

I agree entirely, but I would argue that we have many moral obligations (God-given responsibilities) that have no place in the legislation of a free society. For example, I think lying is a very immoral activity, but I do not think it should be criminally punishable (unless it's something like false advertising or breach of contract, where there is measurable harm to other people).

[Genesis defender]

You guys are pretty funny. Do you light your farts to impress women?

In that case, perhaps Joseph Pujol is their hero.

[rintense]

151 would be perfect.

[rintense]

Damn straight.

[tomakaze]

RE:'Fraid so. I don't recognize animal rights.
 
Count me in as a member of the moron club then as well, I guess. (do we get cool hats or soemthing?)
Sure, animals (especialy pets) have value - but rights? nope not at all.

[baseballfanjm]

He grilled a live kitten. That is a crime in my book. I hate PETA as much as any Freeper but what this guy should be sick to anyone. No, it isn't anything as bad as torturing a child, but it is still sick and doing this should carry a sentence. Anyway, from what I've read, many serial killers got their start from torturing animals. When the rush they got from that wasn't enough, they turned to people. These people are mentally sick and enjoy torturing things that can't fight back.

[kcpopps]

"Sounds like typical redneck hick beergut trash."

Here is the sociopath.

Late reports say that the girl who turned them in has been recieving phone calls stating "Change your story or you're dead" and having things tossed at her doors and windows.

Police are also looking for a second individual now, contrary to what the original report says.

I think the police should accidentally leak the names of the 10-12 other people to the public.

[baseballfanjm]

You have got to draw a line when the animal is tortured, especially for fun. I don't mean bugs, plants, etc., of course. Nor do I mean shooting varmin or animals that are threatening. But you can't torture a kitten like this, or a dog, or bird, or any animal, and expect to get away with it.

[uglybiker]

True enough, she should have had it treated immediately, but the costs probably caused her to pause.

It might depend on where she lives. Many places, like where I live, you'd be hard pressed to find a vet after hours. I found that out when my dog found a rattlesnake late one night. All I could do was try to make him comfortable, stay up (all night) and keep an eye on him.

Just imagine a medium-sized dog with a St. Bernard's head....

[baseballfanjm]

See how they like their flesh burning.

If this is their idea of fun, they'll feel it on their judgement day.

[PhilDragoo]

"Change your story or you're dead"

This directed by the other cat-torturers against the girl.

Already the progression from animal-torturing to murder.

Do we have a valid email for the DA? The earlier one was returned.

[mrfixit514]

I bet he gets more than the 4 years that Knoller got for allowing her dogs to maul a person to death. Boy, have we got our priorties right!

[tomakaze]

RE:If this is their idea of fun, they'll feel it on their judgement day.
 
the problem is that people who do stuff like that don't believe in judgment day (or God).

[mrfixit514]

If some of you bleeding hearts could get as concerned about the killing of innocent babies as you are about animals, we might get abortion outlawed in this country.

[Renatus]

Well, you're not too popular either. What should we do with a crabby old man?

I don't know any crabby old men.

[baseballfanjm]

There is nothing easier to get your hands on that can't fight back, and that the law probably won't find out about.

[Renatus]

Is there anything more innocent, more trusting or more ravishingly pretty than a tiny kitten?

Yes. And his name is Renatus!

[sinkspur]

If some of you bleeding hearts could get as concerned about the killing of innocent babies as you are about animals, we might get abortion outlawed in this country.

You win the "how-long-before-somebody-compares-animal-torture-to-abortion" award. The two have nothing to do with each other, and all who post on this thread are likely against abortion.

You're the bleeding heart, and you ought to get to know Tabitha Soren.