Man Arrested For Burning Kitten on Grill

AP/CNN | 7-16-02 | my favorite headache

[My Favorite Headache]

Man arrested for burning kitten on grill July 16, 2002 Posted: 4:03 PM EDT (2003 GMT)

A neighborhood friend of Sherry Scott holds the kitten they named 'Lucky,' in a recent handout photo.

LIBERTY, Missouri (AP) -- 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.

Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

[Reaganwuzthebest]

This is sick, I cannot stand to see someone do that. And these weren't even kids, who can at times be exceptionally cruel.

[Britton J Wingfield]

Unless you like swallowing your own teeth.

[RobRoy]

Huh? I take out the bones, silly. If the animal has been offed with a shotgun you do have to watch out for buckshot though.

[ST.LOUIE1]

Sick bastard

Totally agree!

You know, I'm not a violent tempered guy, but....

I'd loooove to have fifteen minutes alone with that freak!

Along with a bbq grill.

[RobRoy]

Yeah, I tend to agree. I don't feel for the animal, since it is just so much walking meat - not much "mind" in a kitten, or any animal for that matter. But it says something about a person that ENJOYS torturing an animal. He has some issues.

They probably aren't a risk to humans since most people who do this sort of thing draw a line between human and animal - they don't respect animals as "human" as the animal rights people do.

That's the reason this kind of thing seems soooo sick and terifying to animal rights activists. To them, a kitten is the same as a child, so this guy did the equivalent of puttin a baby on a grill, at least in the animal rights activists mind.

The fact that what this guy did is a crime, however, is absurd!

[lawdude]

"I never let her out of my sight..."

I like cats but you need help. Big < G>

[HOYA97]

What is the matter with the people in this country that they find mutilating helpless children and animals fun? Why?

Because they have no role models, good parents, or religion in their lives.

[Bogey78O]

Is it equivilant to the suffering of a human? No. Is it still callous indifference to suffering? Yes. That's what makes them sickl people for doing so for their own amusement.

[neutrino]

He's already getting some jail house justice

I certainly hope so. And I hope he gets five years in the pen with more of it.

As for those who think that torturing a kitten is fun, I truly hope they spend some time in Hell.

[My Favorite Headache]

Look on my profile on here for some pics from the show.

[TheOtherOne]

The fact that what this guy did is a crime, however, is absurd!

That fact that you don't think animal cruelty with no beneficial purpose should be a crime is absurd.

[Issaquahking]

Those people need to be referred to as "No Current Freeper by that Name". Sickos

[RobRoy]

What animals "feel" is not what I would interpret as "suffering" in the human sense.

I admit this guy does have issues though. He may only be dangerous to his own pets, of course, but if this kitten belonged to someone else, he did cause suffering on the part of the animals owner and should suffer consequences.

I ran over a dog once and felt nothing for the dog. The owner was devastated, however. It was as if she had lost her husband. I did feel bad for her - I felt REALLY bad for her. I didn't do it on purpose, but I still felt bad. But ALL of my bad feelings were for the HUMAN owner, not the soulless walking meat.

[RobRoy]

We are from different times...

[HairOfTheDog]

They probably aren't a risk to humans since most people who do this sort of thing draw a line between human and animal - they don't respect animals as "human" as the animal rights people do.

Personally, I think people who would do this draw the line much closer to home... They draw the line at "Me" or "Not Me". I would not expect these guys to show a lot of empathy toward anything or anyone.

To them, a kitten is the same as a child, so this guy did the equivalent of puttin a baby on a grill, at least in the animal rights activists mind.

Perhaps for a few... However, I think it is equivalent to putting a kitten on a grill, and I still find it repulsive and am pleased that it is criminal. One does not need to think human and animal are equal in order to believe wholeheartedly that animals deserve to be treated humanely by people, for their own sake.

[Mini-14]

"The fact that what this guy did is a crime, however, is absurd!"

The fact that you post on this forum is an offense to Freepers.

[Cogadh na Sith]

They probably aren't a risk to humans since most people who do this sort of thing draw a line between human and animal - they don't respect animals as "human" as the animal rights people do.

Yeah, like Jeffery Dahmer, Charlie Manson, Son of Sam (in a different way) and John Wayne Gacy. Actually, most people who abused animals do go on to commit crimes against humans.

They all did that kind of thing to animals. No, it's not the same as a human, they shouldn't be punished as if they hurt a human, but at the same time, the law should definitely discourage such a thing.

[sinkspur]

But ALL of my bad feelings were for the HUMAN owner, not the soulless walking meat.

You know a lot about being "soulless," it seems.

[TheOtherOne]

I agree with some of your gist, that animals are property and not entities who have rights. However, I do think society should prevent (criminalize) the wanton killing and torture of domestic pets.

[Hacksaw]

She must never have lived on a farm. You put the kittens in a sack and smack 'em with a baseball bat and throw the sack in the garbage can.

Unless you like chinese food. 8^>

I commented on how some members think this is funny and you come along and prove my point.