Cat found burned, abused; 2nd case of Middletown animal abuse in week

OHIO -- A cat found burned and abused is being cared for after a woman called for help after seeing someone set the cat on fire.

A cat found burned and abused is being cared for after a woman called for help after seeing someone set the cat on fire

Nicholas the cat is being cared for at All About Petcare.

Thursday night, Joseph’s Legacy Rescue Group got a call.

A woman who lives in Middletown says she saw someone hit Nicholas and set him on fire.

In the vet’s care, Nicholas is affectionate and purring.

"He's a really sweet cat," Dr. Laura Arington of All About PetCare said. "He's loving. He purrs and he kneads his little feet."

But the little guy probably hasn't had a great life.

On Thursday, volunteers with Joseph's Legacy Rescue were called to Main Street in Middletown to pick up the stray.

"She said that a lady said that somebody we don't know, somebody had tried to set him on fire and also was hitting him," Meg Melampy, of Joseph's Legacy, told WLWT. “His mouth is in really bad shape and he's having difficulty eating and when I give him his pain medicine, it runs and it's just full of blood."

The cat is being treated at All About PetCare, the same place treating Holly, an abused dog.

WLWT was the first to introduce you to the Maltese-poodle mix this week.

Witnesses told police Holly was beaten and kicked by a group of kids. Click here for full story on Holly.

When the rescue group showed up, Holly was incoherent.

"It was [as] if she didn't even know if anybody was there. We didn't even think she could see. She certainly couldn't even get up and walk," Melampy said.

Holly has since made significant improvements.

"This morning she was walking around, following me for the first time. Going in and out of her crate, having a good old time," Krista Snyder, who is fostering Holly, said. "She was actually prancing around like she was a puppy."

Heartwarming to see the progress, yet heartbreaking knowing someone caused both animals so much pain.

After hearing Holly's story, PETA sent a letter to Middletown schools, calling on the district to include a ban on cruelty to animals in the district's code of conduct.

So far, witnesses have not been able to identify those involved in the abuse.

For more information on how to apply to adopt Nicholas or Holly or info on how you can donate to Joseph's Legacy: http://www.josephslegacyrescue.org

(WLWT Cincinnati - May 22, 2015)