Brian Richardson, 25, of 117 E. Manlius St., Apt. 11, was charged Tuesday night with animal cruelty due to an unjustifiable injury to an animal and with failure to provide veterinary care to an animal, said Paul Morgan, executive director of the Central New York chapter of the SPCA. The charges are misdemeanors under the state Agricultural and Markets Law.
Investigators seized the 6-month-old kitten from Richardson on Monday, Morgan said.
A doctor with the Veterinary Medical Center of Central New York said the kitten suffered rib fractures, pelvic fractures and head trauma, Morgan said. The presence of old bone fractures was noted by the veterinarian, Morgan said.
Richardson said he purchased a wire dog cage for the kitten, Morgan said. Richardson told investigators that the cage came with a wire divider that he placed to separate the kitten's food from the kitten's litter box, Morgan said.
The cat was injured when its head became stuck in the wire divider and Richardson tried to extricate it, Morgan said Richardson told investigators. Richardson said it is possible he pressed too hard on the kitten, Morgan said.
Richardson also said that he had become very aggravated with the kitten on occasion and that he may have used poor judgement concerning the animal, but that he never intentionally harmed the animal, Morgan said.
Richardson was issued appearance tickets answerable in East Syracuse Village Court. The kitten remains under treatment at the veterinary office, Morgan said.
(Syracuse.com - Oct 11, 2012)
