Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
CLEARFIELD — The Humane Society of Utah is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for torturing a cat, which later died from the injuries.
Sage, a 6-year-old gray and white domestic cat, belonged to Clearfield resident China Rose, who posted photos of Sage on Facebook with a detailed description of the signs of abuse she found when the cat made its way back home March 8.
According to Rose, when Sage returned, he had been beaten and tortured, his whiskers cut, fur shaved and ribs snapped. The perpetrator had also "tortured (him) with hot glue," and he could no longer walk or meow.
"How he made it home, will never make sense," Rose said on Facebook. "But the fact that he found his way home to us, indicates how strong Sage is. He is a fighter. Our hearts are broken because there is so little we can do."
Late Thursday afternoon, Rose posted on Facebook that Sage had died.
The Humane Society of Northern Utah was covering the veterinary hospital expenses for Sage, and the Humane Society of Utah is offering the $5,000 reward.
“They broke his ribs, his little toes, beat his face, glued his eyes shut, tried to glue his penis and anus shut, burned him with hot glue, and put silicone on him,” the Humane Society of Northern Utah President Debbie Barnes said in a news release. “This is the worst abuse case I have ever seen.”
According to the Utah State Criminal Code, the intentional torture of a companion animal, including "inflicting extreme physical pain ... in an especially heinous, atrocious, cruel or exceptionally depraved manner," is a third-degree felony.
"As one of the most extreme cases of animal torture we’ve seen, we hope that someone will come forward with information to hold the person responsible for their actions and remove them from the community before they cause any further harm,” HSU representative Deann Shepherd said in a news release.
This is the second time in a week the Humane Society has offered a $5,000 reward because of abuse of a cat. Rescuers found another cat with an arrow in its neck and wounds on its face, as if it had been shot with a pellet gun, on March 2.
The Humane Society urges anyone with information to contact Davis County Animal Services at 801-444-2200 and tips can remain anonymous. Tips can also be sent to John Fox, HSU chief investigator, at 801-261-2919 ext. 210.
Donations may be sent to the Humane Society of Northern Utah at 801-603-1905 or Advanced Veterinary Care in Salt Lake City at 801-942-3951.
