July 25, 2000

Salt Lake County Animal Services is asking for help in finding the person responsible in a horrible case of animal cruelty.

Last week, a cat was found cut open, with its paws taped together, and tied to a tree. News Specialitst Jill Atwood reports from the county shelter with more.

So far no suspects, and no leads in this case. But maybe now a $1,500 reward being offered will lead to some answers.

Cat's Owner: "SHE WAS JUST AWESOME. SHE WAS JUST NEAT. SHE HAD THIS LITTLE PERSONALITY ALL HERSELF. SHE WAS JUST LIKE A LITTLE PERSON. SHE WAS SO SMART."

Flowers now mark the spot where Little Miss Blunt the Kitty came to rest.

She was out for her typical cat-like prowls last week, when someone grabbed her, tortured her, and then taped her to a tree.

Her owner was afraid to show us her face on camera, but decided to talk with us in hopes it will help bring Kitty's killer to justice.

Cat Owner: "I'M HEARTBROKEN, AND SICKENED. AND I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEONE WOULD DO THAT TO A POOR INNOCENT ANIMAL THAT WOULD NEVER HURT ANYBODY."

Temma Martin/Salt Lake County Animal Services: "WHEN WE DID FIND THE OWNERS AND DISCOVERED HOW MUCH THEY CARED ABOUT THE ANIMAL AND HOW MUCH SHE WAS PART OF THE FAMILY, IT JUST MADE IT THAT MUCH HARDER AND THAT MUCH MORE TRAGIC. SOMEBODY LOVED THIS CAT. SOMEBODY WAS LOOKING FOR THIS CAT."

Temma Martin with Animal Services wonders what kind of person could be capable of such cruelty. She also wonders if it isn't part of a much bigger problem, when people take their own fears and frustrations out on animals.

Temma Martin: "THIS TYPE OF ABUSE IS GENERALLY PART OF A CYCLE. EITHER THE PERSON WHO ABUSES ANIMALS GOES ON TO ABUSE PEOPLE OR THE PERSON ABUSING THE ANIMAL IS ABUSED THEMSELVES AND IS ACTING OUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM."

Cat Owner: "IT JUST GAVE ME A REALITY CHECK THAT THE WORLD ISN'T REALLY AS HAPPY AS IT SEEMS TO BE, AND THAT THERE ARE CRUEL PEOPLE OUT THERE."

The three animal groups coming together to offer this reward are Wasatch Humane, Best Friends Animal Sancuary and CAUSE, or The Community Animal Welfare Society. So if you have any information on this case, give one of those groups a call.

Animal cruelty is punishable by up to six months in prison, and a fine, but many would argue that's not stiff enough. So keep your animals close and keep them inside if you can. It's safest.