FLORIDA -- A man was jailed on an animal cruelty charge after he tore the tail off of a kitten he was carrying at a soup kitchen on Monday, police said.
Timothy Lee Jenk, 42, was arrested after a witness told police Jenk was holding a bloody kitten at the First Lutheran Church. Jenk was confronted by a police officer when he returned to the soup kitchen, apparently after changing his shirt, police said.
Jenk lied and told the officer a veterinarian had removed the kitten's tail the day before. Police said the black 12-week-old kitten appeared to be in severe pain and the injury was fresh.
When the officer told Jenk he was going to call Broward Animal Control, Jenk fled, police said. After a short chase, the officer caught Jenk and found a blood-soaked shirt.
Jenk was jailed in lieu of $100 bail, which was raised to $5,100 on Tuesday. The cat was turned over to Animal Control and underwent an operation for its injury on Tuesday.
(Sun Sentinel - January 9, 1991)
