Police seek person who set cat on fire in Long Beach
Long Beach police are seeking help in identifying the person who set a cat on fire Sunday morning.
Responding to a call at 11:15 a.m., police found the badly burned cat, its fur still smoldering, in the 1100 block of Daisy Avenue. Officers took the animal to an emergency veterinary hospital, where it was examined and euthanized.
The cat, a young adult, appeared to be predominantly dark gray or black, had white hind feet and a white face patch.
Anyone with information should call Long Beach Police Det. David Ternullo at (562) 570-7657. Tips can also be submitted via text or e-mail on the department website, www.longbeach.gov/police, or directly to Tipsoft, www.tipsoft.com.
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EDITOR'S PICKS:
Animal cruelty should be punished with extended jail time and
a psychiatric evaluation; people who torture animals have been known
to graduate to maiming and killing humans next.
Posted by: Audrey | February 24, 2011 at 10:40 PM
It was not "just a cat"--it was a sentient life, subjected to horrible torture and cruelty to satisfy one freak's sick pleasure. Whoever did it should be out away for a long time--for the sake of the rest of us.
Posted by: LAHuman | February 24, 2011 at 11:04 PM
It was not "just a cat"--it was a sentient life, subjected to horrible torture and cruelty to satisfy one freak's sick pleasure. Whoever did it should be out away for a long time--for the sake of the rest of us.
Posted by: LAHuman | February 24, 2011 at 11:04 PM
Seriously Carl? I personally don't like cats but to say it's "just a cat"? I thought I had problems.
Posted by: Mike | February 24, 2011 at 11:17 PM
Let's not jump to ANY conclusion as to why this happened. Perhaps the cat was a nuissance to the person who lit it on fire? Maybe it scratched his/her infant child? Perhaps it urinated on his new Bentley? Or ate somebody's pet Rat? Get my point?
Posted by: Arnold | February 24, 2011 at 11:36 PM
I don't see any morally relevant difference between cats and dogs. No doubt most cat owners will be outraged at someone minimizing this atrocity because it's "just a cat." Perhaps fewer people would stand up for a raccoon but personally I think it's monstrous to subject anything with a nervous system to this.
Posted by: Felmmando | February 25, 2011 at 12:09 AM
Anyone purposely torturing and/or killing defenseless animals should receive the same. Jail is too humane for a cowardly monster such as this.
Posted by: RabidinL.A. | February 25, 2011 at 03:50 AM
Only a sick, twisted mind would do an act like this. Perhaps long term therapy in addition to some kind of jail time. One kind of "sentencing".....have the person forced to join those(and I personally know of a man actively involved with the cause) who are out to rescue stray cats.
Posted by: Onboard Skeptic | February 25, 2011 at 07:32 AM
I wonder what provoked the individual who did this to the cat to light it on fire? People who own cats need to keep an eye on their pets!
Posted by: Rod | February 25, 2011 at 10:23 AM
I hope they catch the person who did this and I hope that, when he's released (well, possibly she, but I don't think there's much chance of that, really), there are a few dozen violent animal rights activists on hand to help "welcome" him back to society. Stories like this...I don't know if they make me more angry, sad, or nauseated, so I get confused and just sit there with a weird empty feeling in my gut. I'm watching my girlfriend pet our cat and thinking, 'Thank God I don't let him outside on a regular basis, or ever if I'm not there to watch him.' There are too many sick people who can justify doing things like this...or who just don't care about justification, I don't know. The Humane Society in my city won't adopt cats out in the week running up to Hallowe'en...how screwed up are the people around me that a policy like that has to be put in place, and that someone can set a cat on FIRE for kicks? Anyone who says, "It's just a cat" ought to keep in mind that a cat has the same nervous system as humans do; they feel pain in the same way. Equally, many serial killers or violent rapists or other repeat violent offenders begin by torturing animals - if they don't catch this person now, what kind of damage will he be doing in half a decade?
Posted by: Wildabeast | February 25, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Extensive studies have proven that cruelty to animals leads to cruelty to humans, usually in the form of abuse to the homeless, the elderly, disabled, or very young. Anyone who does this is a potentially violent time bomb.
Of course, your statement could be a really poor attempt at humor. If so, you failed.
Posted by: Astonished | February 25, 2011 at 01:02 PM
The times censors these comments until the thread becomes vague.
Posted by: Bob Horner | February 25, 2011 at 03:21 PM
Just two recent stories I read either here or in LA Daily News, where in one case a woman with six daughters tortured cats and dogs till they died while they watched, and in the second case, arrangements being made with dog owners to allow men to have sex with dogs. Something is seriously wrong with our society.
Posted by: anon | February 25, 2011 at 03:46 PM
Many, if not most, serial killers start by killing animals.
Posted by: ED A | February 25, 2011 at 06:21 PM
in this UK show The Misfits the guy is pissed at his neighbor and decides to set his house on fire. he throws a flaming piece of paper in to the mail slot on the door , looks through it and realizes he set the dudes cat on fire. He felt bad and proceeded to pee through the slot to stop the cat from being engulfed in flames. ....maybe this cat...missed the stream. :|
Posted by: kk | February 25, 2011 at 09:05 PM
How can anyone make a comment here when the LA Times sensors what is convinient to them?
Posted by: Arnold | February 25, 2011 at 10:08 PM
If the police find this guy and simply shoot him through his worthless head, if I'm on the jury, the cops will walk.
Posted by: GEAH | February 26, 2011 at 01:54 AM
People are crazy out there!! I once ran over a cat with my car and felt pretty bad about it! But then realized it should'nt have been on the street to begin with.
Posted by: Steve | February 26, 2011 at 09:28 AM
who would do such think to an innocent cat that's just sad
Posted by: rosi | February 26, 2011 at 12:32 PM
@Rosi: Maybe the cat wasn't innocent? Again, unless we know all the facts as to why this has happened, let's not pass judgement on the situation. Thank you!
Posted by: Allen | February 26, 2011 at 02:05 PM
I just saw this story this morning and can't believe it! Although I'm not a big cat fan, I'm glad it was not a dog that got hurt here.
Posted by: Andrew | February 26, 2011 at 03:39 PM
Poor Kitty!
Posted by: LA Resident | February 27, 2011 at 12:46 PM
"Predominately dark gray or black"? Before or after it was burnt??
Posted by: Dave | February 27, 2011 at 01:36 PM
Why is this news? Cats die every single day!
Posted by: Annie | February 28, 2011 at 08:37 PM