BALTIMORE -- The city's anti-animal cruelty task force is looking into another disturbing case of a cat allegedly tortured by children.
The incident happened Saturday in the 2800 block of Wilkens Avenue in west Baltimore.
A witness told police she saw the kids swing the cat around like a lasso, then slam its head to the ground.
[X-rays showed the kitten's only apparent injury was a fractured jaw. VIEW
There is a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Meanwhile, vets are preparing to operate on the battered cat.
While cradling his resilient patient, Everhart Animal Hospital Dr. Rob Goodman explained to 11 News why the brown and white kitten earned the name "Miracle," after a woman found her last weekend.
"She saw a group of kids slamming him on his head with his tail against the sidewalk. According to the children, they were planning to throw him up on the roof," Goodman said.
X-rays showed the kitten's only apparent injury was a fractured jaw.
The woman said she took the cat from the kids and rushed it to the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, where employees such as Debra Rahl said they are all too familiar with animal cruelty.
"There is an issue with violence in the city. (The perpetrators) tend to go on to commit violent crimes against people," Rahl said.
There have been nearly a dozen high-profile cat torture cases this year, including a kitten being set on fire in July, and a hole where Elwood Park residents said neighborhood cats were pelted to death with chunks of concrete.
BARCS members said the problem isn't just happening to strays. A Baltimore County house sitter and his friends are charged with putting a kitten through the microwave, washer and dryer before drowning her in a bag of rocks last month.
"I think it's always been going on, but people are more sensitive to it now," Goodman said.
That is why Rahl said she is hopeful someone will turn in Miracle's tormentors.
"These children need help. They need to get help. Help the animals and that will help these children," Rahl said.
Meanwhile, Goodman is preparing to make Miracle adoptable.
"Once we fix his jaw, his prognosis should be excellent. He's very lovable, by the way," Goodman said.
The mayor's anti-animal cruelty task force is holding a public meeting next week.
The public is invited to come voice concerns or share information about animal abuse, including how authorities could make it easier to report and crack down on offenders.
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Originally Posted by Misskittychaos
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