I hate hearing things like this, makes me feel sad but also glad that my cat is a house cat.

----- Original Message -----
From: Noon Cat Nick <chatdemidiSPAMBEGONE@catlover.com>
Sent: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 15:54:22
Subject: "3 teens accused of killing friendly cat" (sp: animal cruelty)

From the _San Francisco Chronicle_, Wednesday, February 23, 2005, page
B-5, reported by Demian Bulwa

URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/02/23/BAGFVBFKIE1.DTL

PLEASANTON, CA - Three teens stand accused of snatching a stranger's cat
and killing it before hanging it from a noose over the side of a train
trestle for motorists on Sunol Boulevard to see, police said Tuesday.

Police arrested 18-year-old John van de Roovart, who allegedly killed
the 18-year-old cat named Xeno, on Thursday on suspicion of felony
animal cruelty after an interview with an officer assigned to his high school.

According to police, the crime occurred Jan. 17 - the Martin Luther King
Jr. school holiday. Two 17-year-old boys from Pleasanton drove around
that morning looking for a cat to kill.

"They were just looking for something to do, I suppose. It's really
unfortunate," said Pleasanton police Sgt. Brian Laurence. "The cat came
right up to them. It was a friendly cat, unfortunately."

The boys then took the cat to van de Roovart at his house, said
Laurence, who declined to discuss how the animal was killed.

Soon, drivers on Sunol Boulevard reported seeing the hanging cat; two of
them later offered a $1,000 reward. A tip led School Resource Officer
Michael Steiner to van de Roovart, Laurence said.

The 17-year-olds were also arrested on suspicion of felony animal
cruelty and released. A fourth teenager's role in the cat killing is
still being investigated.

================================

Mankind▓s true moral test, its fundamental test (which lies deeply
buried from view), consists of its attitude towards those who are at its
mercy: animals.  And in this respect mankind has suffered a fundamental
debacle, a debacle so fundamental that all others stem from it.
--Milan Kundera, _The Unbearable Lightness of Being_

I honestly hope those involved get what they deserve.............well, at
least that allowed by law.  What I feel they deserve unfortunately is not
allowed.  I feel so badly for this poor kitty - - 18 years old!  How his
person must have felt!  What sick minds must have "needed something to do"
chosing killing a cat!! Whatever happened to constructive things to do!

My 19 year old female cat passed away in January................I could only
imagine the fury I would feel if it were her that had been killed by these
monsters.  Then again, I doubt I would have control over my actions.  To me,
humans that do such inhuman acts cannot possibly contribute to society in
the way that God would have wanted.

My heart is filled with sorrow.  Have there been any updates on this
occurrence?  I would love to hear that these pieces of "tender meat" have
been sent to prison................they will find what abuse is like.

Mel