Cats Spray Painted And Set On Fire
by Elisa Black-Taylor
(USA)
Tiger and Butterball on Oct. 11
Two teens have been charged with two counts of animal cruelty in Honea Path, SC for spray painting and setting fire to the tails of two cats. The abuse took place against Tiger and Butterball on September 26, 2011.
As many of the readers here may have noticed, I cut way back on my reporting of individual cruelty to animal cases. The reason I'm reporting on this one is it occurred in Honea Path, SC, which is less than a twenty minute country drive from where I live.
Honea Path is a wonderful little town and is famous for it's yearly Honey Soppin' Festival. Animal abuse cases here are rare. This just goes to show no town is safe when there are teens out there looking for trouble.
Timothy McLaughlin, 17, of Honea Path was charged with two counts of cruelty to animals. Another teenager, Christopher Martinez, was also charged but has not been arrested. Both face additional charges of malicious injury to personal property, illegal graffiti and vandalism, interference with traffic-control devices, grand larceny and damaging or tampering with a vehicle.
Surprise surprise!! According to Police Chief David King, McLaughlin isn't new to breaking the law. Back in July he escaped from the back of a police car where he was being arrested along with his mother.
Here's a Fox CAROLINA video (opens in a new window/tab).
I'm really tired about writing these individual abuse cases. I want to warn the readers at picture-of-cats.org that teens like McLaughlin and Martinez are everywhere. It just distresses me to follow these cases only to see them end with small fines and community service.
I'm a huge supporter of mandatory animal cruelty laws for this very reason. I believe everyone should be held by the same set of standards regardless of age or location.
I really must end this article now as I'm becoming very upset thinking of the outcome. Tiger and Butterball will be fine. As will the two teens. I'm sure they'll get off with a slap on the wrist as cases like this always end in this manner.
Cats Spray Painted And Set On Fire will become another in my long list of abuse cases where justice won't be served. Do any of you agree with me on this one?
Photos courtesy of Fox CAROLINA.
Elisa