Pennsylvania: Garbage men rescue cat found doused in gasoline, tied up and sealed inside a trash bag

PENNSYLVANIA -- Authorities in a Pennsylvania town are investigating this week after garbage collectors found a cat that was tied up and doused with gasoline inside a trash truck.

On Wednesday, Humane Pennsylvania asked the public for help locating those responsible in the case of animal abuse. A $1,000 reward is available for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

The incident occurred Tuesday in Reading, Berks County where rescue workers are calling the female cat, "Miracle Maisy."

The garbage was being compacted in the truck when collectors heard cries from inside the vehicle. The workers found the cat inside one of the trash bags. The animal was found tied up and doused with gasoline.

Miracle Maisy was immediately transported to the Humane Society of Berks County for an evaluation but was sent to Humane Veterinary Hospitals Reading for treatment.

Officials said Miracle Maisy is recovering from her injuries but medical expenses are mounting. Humane Pennsylvania is covering all costs but asks the public for donations to her medical fund.

The Reading Police Department is currently investigating the report of animal cruelty. Anyone with information is urged to call police at (610) 655-6116.

(Philly Voice - April 5, 2017)

Idaho: Coeur d'Alene police searching for the person who tortured and tried to drown a cat in diesel fuel. Cat had oil in his lungs and did not survive

IDAHO -- A cat was brought into a Coeur d'Alene animal hospital after suffering horrific abuse and torture and now police are trying to find the person or persons responsible.

The cat was soaked in diesel fuel when it was brought into Alpine Animal Hospital on Saturday.

Employees at the clinic said the cat had bruises, wounds, and deep cuts around his neck that were consistent with an attempted hanging. The cat's body temperature was so low that it didn't even register on a thermometer.

Despite giving the cat baths, IV fluids, and medication, he was still having abnormal breathing and seizures, so the decision was made to put it down.

The hospital said the cat also had oil in his lungs.

The woman who brought the cat in found it on her porch in the area of Montana Avenue and 13th Street, however, it did not have any identification.

Last spring, another cat was found in the same area with a blow dart stuck in its face. That cat survived, but despite a $5,000 reward offered from PETA, no suspects were arrested.

Anyone with information on this horrific case is asked to call Coeur d'Alene Police at 208-769-2320.

(KHQ - Feb 15, 2017)

Indiana: The cat that Noah Riley tied up, doused in gasoline, set on fire and threw from his vehicle has died of her injuries

INDIANA -- The cat found badly burned in a Montgomery County field last week has died, according to officials with the Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County.

The cat, nicknamed Phoenix, had been showing signs of recovery over the weekend, but her condition took a turn for the worse Sunday, and officials with the Animal Welfare League said Phoenix passed away.

“It is with a heavy heart and a lot of tears I tell you our baby girl got her wings. Fly high Phoenix,” the group wrote on Facebook just after 9 p.m. Sunday.

On Saturday, the group said she was showing signs of improvement. Even Sunday morning, they described her as a fighter and said she was stable.

By Sunday night, Phoenix was in critical condition and experiencing respiratory problems. The veterinarians were concerned she had fluid in her lungs, the group posted around 8:15 p.m. Less than an hour later, the group posted that Phoenix had died.

A retired firefighter found Phoenix Wednesday night. He was at home watching TV he saw a flame shoot up from a field. Phoenix was covered in gasoline and someone had put a firecracker on top of her. She was taken to Purdue Animal Hospital for treatment.

Thursday night, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 19-year-old Noah Riley in connection with the case. Riley, who faces two counts of animal cruelty, told police he’d seen several social media posts about the cat and wanted to “get the issue resolved.”

(CBS4INDY - Jan 16, 2017)

Earlier:

• Indiana: Police say Noah Riley, 19, tied a cat's legs together, doused her in gasoline, lit her on fire and threw her out his car window to burn to death

Indiana: Police say Noah Riley, 19, tied a cat's legs together, doused her in gasoline, lit her on fire and threw her out his car window to burn to death

INDIANA -- A 19-year-old Crawfordsville man has been arrested in connection to a cat that was doused with gasoline, lit on fire and left to die.

Noah A. Riley, 19, of Crawfordsville, was arrested shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday.

“Mr. Riley, after seeing the discussion on social media about his actions, started 'feeling guilty' and turned himself in to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office,” Chief Deputy Ryan Needham said. “Road Officer Jared Kirby interviewed Riley who admitted to setting a cat on fire Wednesday night on C.R. 500S.

More likely he knew someone would turn him in and his mommy and daddy got him a lawyer who said turn yourself in and then try to get a plea deal that says you knew you were wrong, you're sorry and you 'did the right thing' by turning yourself in. 

Riley was booked into the Montgomery County Jail at 8:06 p.m. He is being charged with cruelty to an animal, a Class 6 felony and abandoning and neglecting an animal, an A misdemeanor. He is being held on $1,000 cash bond.

The arrest stems from an incident that occurred Wednesday night. When Steve Wright of New Market heard a vehicle stopped out in front of his home on C.R. 500 S., he thought the driver might be having mechanical issues.

What he saw when he looked out the window was a flame of fire shooting about six feet into the air and heard a cat screeching in pain. 

The vehicle sped away leaving a female cat who had been doused with gasoline and set on fire, with all four feet bound with a rope. 

The person who left in the vehicle had attached an M-80 explosive to the rope as if he wanted it to explode to further hurt the cat. 

Wright immediately called 9-1-1. The dispatcher then notified the Montgomery County Welfare League of a potential animal abuse case at approximately 10 p.m.

AWL employee Misha Anderson responded to the call. She found the cat in shock and took it back to the shelter. Not knowing if the cat would succumb to its injuries, she decided to wait to see if the feline could make it through the night.

“I was heart broken and I told her if she could hang on through the night, I would take her to Purdue in the morning,” Anderson said.

Early Thursday morning, Anderson found the cat alive. In fact, the cat was walking and attentive but in a lot of pain. So, Anderson placed her in a cage and sped to the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital.

The Purdue veterinarians said the cat had received severe burns around its mouth, nose and ears. However, there were few burns to its skin, but they were concerned about the condition of the cat’s lungs because of possible inhalation of fire and smoke.

“I think the cat’s wet fur actually prevented her from having her whole body burnt badly,” Anderson said. “Where she had little hair, like around her eyes and ears, she had bad burns.”

Veterinarians kept the cat all day Thursday for lung x-rays and further evaluation.

AWL is committed to help the cat to full recover if Purdue veterinarians believe the cat has a chance to live. They are now seeking donations to help with the expected large expenses.

“If anyone wants to donate to the medical expenses we will apply all we receive to the case,” Anderson said.

(Journal Review - Jan 13, 2017)

United Kingdom: Alastair Graham, who tied friend's dog to a tree before dousing it in petrol and burning it to death is jailed for almost four years

UNITED KINGDOM -- A man who tied friend's dog to a tree before dousing it in petrol and burning it to death is jailed for almost four years

Alastair Graham was looking after Bruno, a Staffordshire Pit Bull Terrier mix, for a friend when he snapped after the animal bit his finger.

He tied the animal to a tree in Kirkcaldy's Dunniker Woods and initially attempted to slit its throat and stab it to death.

But when he failed Graham went to a nearby petrol station and filled up a gas can before pouring it over the terrified dog. He then set the dog alight - causing horrific full thickness burns to the defenseless animal.

A sheriff told Graham the attack was a "grotesque act of savagery".

But the Animal Health and Welfare Act that he was prosecuted under means Graham could only be jailed for a maximum of a year - and his early guilty plea meant only nine months of his 45 month sentence is as a result of the brutal killing.

However, he was jailed for a further 36 months over a knife robbery committed with pal Steven Gourdie days after the fire attack.

Fiscal depute Susan Dickson told Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court that a post-mortem on Bruno revealed he had still been alive when Graham had set him alight.

She said: "Around 2pm on April 25 a dog walker so a black object around 10 meters from a path - he looked more closely and saw it was the remains of a dog.

 

"Police could not trace the owners at that time be found but information as to its owner was later received.

"On April 28 the owner met Mr Graham and brought the story about the dog being found up on the TV.

"The accused initially said 'that's sick'. They went into the kitchen and Mr Graham then said 'it was me'.

"Graham had been looking after the dog for the owner as a favor. He said the dog had been biting him and he snapped - he said he didn't want it biting anyone else.

"He said he had tried to cut an artery but it didn't work.

"Footage from the BP petrol station showed the accused filling up a container with petrol on the day in question - a similar container was found melted beside the dog.

"A post mortem on the dog was carried out which revealed the burning was concentrated over the neck, head and thorax areas with the right side badly burnt to full thickness.

"There was a thick black deposit round the neck consistent with the harness - the metal parts were burnt on to the neck.

"There was inhalation of smoke in the dog's airways which indicates it was alive when it was set on fire.

"There was also a deep sharp puncture would and another sharp wound - neither of which were life threatening but would have caused pain.

"The accused when interviewed said he had taken the dog for a walk but it had run away."

Graham, 23, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to causing Bruno unnecessary sufering by causing his death in the fire on April 24 or 25.

He further admitted an attempted knife robbery committed alongside Steven Gourdie, committed on May 2 at High Street, Leven.

Larry Flynn, defending Graham, said: "This was a serious offence but he has co-operated with the process throughout.
"He has a vague recollection of doing this but was abusing alcohol at the time.

"His recollection is that he attempted to kill it with a knife but he failed and he went to get the petrol then returned.

Sheriff James Williamson jailed Graham for 45 months in total - nine months for the dog attack and three years for the robbery. Gourdie will be sentenced for the robbery on August 1.

Graham was also banned from keeping animals for life.

He said: "He went about this in a calculated manner - it wasn't a spur of the moment thing.

"This was a grotesque act of savagery. You will be disqualified from keeping animals for life. The sentences will run consecutively - the total will be 45 months."

PC Ian Laing, Wildlife Crime Officer for Police Scotland's Fife Division said: "This defenceless animal suffered immensely prior to its death and the incident evoked considerable outrage from the local community.

"A robust investigation was launched to identify whoever was responsible, resulting in Alastair Graham being arrested and charged.

"His guilty plea is testament to the work carried out by Police Scotland to bring this offence to trial and the support from the public who provided vital information during our enquiries."

Bruno's owners,. Christopher McMahon and Chermaine Letham branded Graham "evil" and the maximum sentence "disgusting".

Chermaine said: "Alastair Graham is an evil man. An eye for an eye. Receiving a year maximum is disgusting considering in America a man did the same thing and got five years.

"If he can do that to a helpless dog then what can he do to a child or elderly person?

"His maximum sentence is a joke. He tortured and murdered a family pet simply because he bit his finger. That's disgusting. He should be left to rot."

She added: "When I found out about Bruno and the terrible way he had passed my heart was broken. Bruno was a very loving and caring dog who enjoyed long cuddles. He was so gentle around children and was also good around other dogs."

(Daily Record - July 18, 2014)