This is a big moment in the world of animal cruelty where cats are the innocent victims. The children who tortured and beat a cat earlier this year are being disciplined for their crime. More about Quattro the cat can be found on their Facebook: Justice for Quattro page.
Quattro’s story began when he was beaten to death with bricks on May 7, 2014 by a group of grade school children. Those who followed the story called it one of the most horrific cases of abuse they’ve ever seen. All three children were under the age of 10.
This happened on near the school grounds of School 4 in Paterson, New Jersey. The group was throwing rocks, bricks and sticks at the cat, who could not get away due to injuries. Two brothers, who are true heroes in this story, stood up for what was right when they saw these kids beating the cat, and they ran in and stopped them and then took Quattro home to his mother to get it help.
Chance At Life Cat Rescue was contacted and immediately rushed Quattro to the vet. Among some of the injuries Quattro’s legs were fractured, his eye so severely damaged that it had to be removed, his jaw was fractured, he had blood and pus in brain and his nails ripped from his paws in his attempt to escape this vicious attack but he was too weak and injured to get away.
Those who heard Quattro’s story pleaded for justice, but the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) became involved by petitioning the Paterson chapter in Passaic County to ask the prosecutor to drop charges against three boys, one of whom is only 6. This created an outcry on social media.
While the NAACP wanted charges dropped on the grounds that the boys were too young to know what they were doing, experts stressed the justice system is there to rehabilitate and not to punish them. The chapter stated they wanted the county to “drop any and all charges” against the boys, and expressed hope that the boys’ families would seek professional help for them.
It also called comments made about the children on several social media and news websites “cruel and blatantly racist,” saying they came from outsiders who “have no genuine concern for the present well-being and future of the children involved.”
A video can be seen here of the NAACP delivering their message
The Facebook page for Quattro had an announcement yesterday that may set a precedent on how future cases involving children and animal cruelty are handled saying
“Today is the day you have been waiting for since May 7, 2014. Renee called for an update today and first spoke to Passaic County Prosecutor Donna Gade who told Renee that the court date was a couple of weeks ago and it went as we wanted. Our voices were heard and Quattro was not ignored or forgotten.”
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office received more than 1,000 emails and letters calling for justice. This fueled the legal systems drive to see these three children punished, since there’s a proven direct link between early animal abuse and future violence against both animals and people.
All three boys pleaded guilty to animal cruelty, which is a felony. They admitted to torturing Quattro so badly that the torture lead to his death. The boys will have to go through two years of extensive psychiatric and psychological therapy. Some of the treatments they will be receiving are anger and impulse awareness, animal sensitivity and victim awareness. The felony charge will be on their records.
The boys will also be on probation for two years and a Passaic County Prosecutor representative will be watching the boys closely. If the boys don’t comply with the court orders they’ll be brought back in for additional sentencing. This case has also led the prosecutors to develop a program where young offenders can do community service through a program that will be geared toward teaching the children how to treat animals. This program should be in place in the near future.
Quattro’s Facebook page sent out a thank you that reflects the feeling of those who read the articles at PoC.
“From the bottom of our hearts, once again, we say thank you! If you see abuse, report it. If you see abuse, stop it! We are here to help one another and we are here to be the voice of those that have no voice!
In memory and tears we at Justice for Quattro are thankful for the good people in this world and we will hug those we love a bit tighter tonight for Quattro.”
This is an important case. Not only because the abusers will receive intensive treatment, but because it shows just how much can be accomplished when public outcry forces authorities to act and press charges. It took a lot of guts to defy the NAACP, and I’m pleased these kids won’t get off with no punishment at all, which is often the case with juveniles. It’s also good the felony charge will remain on their record.
Rest in peace, Quattro. You didn’t deserve any of this. Perhaps parents should discuss this case with their young children, just to let them know they’ll be held accountable, should they injure a helpless cat.
Well, yes, you make a good point. I wonder too if the “fact” that black people like cats less than white people also plays a roll here.
It could be in the DNA a bit. I know it’s in the DNA of older women in the South to speak their mind and not care who’s feelings they trample on to tell the truth. Gotta love old Southern ladies 🙂
My phone is more amused than abused. I sleep surf and sleep text a lot. And if I get an article idea I PM myself on it so I don’t forget 🙂
When you’re used to seeing no discipline at all I’d call that discipline. But you’re right. There’s no way those mini-thugs didn’t know what they were doing, and they obviously liked to inflict pain. Wait til they start beating up their girlfriends in a few years just to hear her scream and maybe the law will do something different. Most animal abusers get off with no jail time and a very small fine. If I had to punish them, I’d throw them in a child program and not let them out til they’re 18. I’ll bet if there were any way to follow the children they’ll continue to stay in trouble the rest of their lives.
I don’t think we’ll ever know true stats because animal abuse may be done in private with the kids never telling their parents or the parents not caring enough if told to do something about it.
I’ve sat in on Anderson County General Sessions Court with my then 10-year-old stepson just to show him how the wheels of justice turn. They turn, all right. The judge gives probation and a fine and sends everyone right back out onto the streets. This happens over and over until the person finally commits manslaughter or murder. And you also have to take into account that local jails are full of both races for not paying child support. I have many black friends, and white too, who have multiple children and each child has a different daddy or they don’t even know who the daddy is, fathered by black men. I guess they’re raised differently, maybe someone can answer that.
This article touches on the big discussion about black crime and whether it is due to prejudice from whites forcing blacks into crime or whether it is part of the black DNA. A very sensitive area but it needs to be aired.