Boy, 10, Suspected In Kitten’S Death

Tue., Nov. 28, 2000

A 10-year-old boy faces charges of animal cruelty and residential burglary after he broke into a north Spokane County home, squeezed a kitten to death and attempted to freeze another one, Spokane Sheriff’s spokesman Dave Reagan said.

Deputies, who responded to the incident at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, believe the boy entered the home through an unsecured basement window, tried to freeze a kitten by dunking it in water and squeezed another kitten against his chest until it died, Reagan said.

When a female resident of the home returned after shopping, she found the boy and drove him to his parents’ home, Reagan said.

After dropping off the child, the woman could only find one of her kittens, which was shivering.

Her daughter later discovered the other kitten dead in a sewing basket.

The case will be handled by Spokane County Juvenile Court.

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