A blatant case of animal cruelty unfolding on social media has the cat community in an uproar after a Sullivan County, Tennessee man allegedly trapped a neighbors pet cat inside a cage then shot it to death.
Animalpetitions.org tells the horrible story asking for justice for the Kingsport cat. It’s directed at Barry Staubus, District Attorney for Sullivan County, Tennessee asking his office to punish the man who allegedly shot and killed the caged cat.
“A Kingsport, Tennessee woman documented a horrifying eyewitness account of apparent animal cruelty to authorities. She allegedly watched as a neighborhood man, 62-year-old Philip B. Mainer, trapped another neighbor’s pet cat inside a cage.
To her shock, the witness recounted, Mainer then allegedly shot the defenseless animal about six times. What was this man supposed defense when the witness confronted him? He claimed the imprisoned, frightened animal was being “mean” when he tried to open the cage.
Mainer faces charges of aggravated animal cruelty, but perhaps the most unsettling part of this alleged execution was that it may not have been this man’s first offense. The same witness alleged to police that Mainer routinely kept an open cage set up outside, his apartment…presumably to trap more animals. If true, how many more victims might the man have claimed during his life?
The aggravated animal cruelty case against Philip B. Mainer tragically demonstrates the capacity for man’s inhumanity. The alleged feline fatality, in this case, may have not been located, but he or she deserves the same justice as any victim of senseless violence. Please ensure this innocent receive that justice.
The alleged disposal of the cat’s body following an eyewitness confrontation indicates the accused knew of his wrongdoing. The reported consistent presence of the cage allegedly used to trap the cat outside the defendant’s home speaks to a potentially troubling pattern of repeated malicious behavior.
Please make certain a full and thorough investigation that uncovers all potential crimes does occur. Most of all, please devote any available resources to validating animal cruelty as a heinous, unacceptable crime.”
The petition can be found by clicking here. I did a Google search and this is a legit petition site. Many are not so always check.
According to a June 1 report by Times News,Mainer was arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty. KPD Public Information Officer Tom Patton said their investigation gave them enough information for an arrest. The remains of the cat haven’t been found.