$2,500 Reward Offered to Catch Person Who Set Illinois Kitten on Fire

IMAGES: http://bit.ly/2bAnfwW

CONTACT: Lisa Levinson lisa@idausa.org 215-620-2130

Forest Park, IL  (August 18, 2016) – International animal protection organization, In Defense of Animals, has announced a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who set a three month-old kitten named Sprout on fire and left him in an alley to die in Forest Park, Illinois.

A member of the public found the badly burned kitten alive and suffering in the Forest Park alley on Wednesday July 13, and brought the injured kitten to a woman who rescues cats in Heide Park.

In Defense of Animals’ Lisa Levinson responded to the call for help from Gail Panici, a local activist campaigning for justice for Sprout. Panici said, “Who could look into the eyes of an innocent kitten and intentionally hurt him? We have to stop his killers. Don’t let Sprout die in vain.”

Sprout’s story of abuse has shocked the local area. Felines Canines Shelter rushed Sprout to an intensive care veterinary hospital to treat his wounds. Although he responded to their round-the-clock care, Sprout suffered from a stroke due to the stress of being burned alive. Hospital staff believe that Sprout’s unfortunate death resulted from the trauma of the stroke on top of the multiple burn wounds, which were possibly caused by fireworks strapped to his body. Sadly, little Sprout passed away in the arms of a veterinary technician on July 19th.

The identity of the kitten’s guardian remains a mystery, which is why In Defense of Animals is now offering a substantial reward to find the cruel perpetrator and bring them to justice. When the perpetrator who burned Sprout alive is found, they will undergo a psychiatric assessment and be charged with aggravated cruelty, a class 4 felony under Illinois state law, and animal torture, a class 3 felony.

In Defense of Animals’ Sustainable Activism Campaign Director Lisa Levinson said, “Someone knows who did this. Please contact us if you have any information that may help us find this dangerous person who remains a threat to the entire community. We cannot stand by and allow this crime to go unpunished.”

Anyone with information related to this crime may contact In Defense of Animals anonymously at (415) 448-0048, Lisa Levinson, Sustainable Activism Campaign Director (215) 620-2130 or Forest Park Police Chief Tom Aftanas at 708-615-6299.

For more information, please visit www.idausa.org

NOTES

Sprout’s full story and memorial are posted here.

§ 510 ILCS 70/3.02.  Aggravated cruelty Sec. 3.02. Aggravated cruelty. No person may intentionally commit an act that causes a companion animal to suffer serious injury or death. A person convicted of violating Section 3.02 is guilty of a Class 4 felony. A second or subsequent violation is a Class 3 felony.

§ 510 ILCS 70/3.03.  Animal torture. Sec. 3.03. Animal torture. (a) A person commits animal torture when that person without legal justification knowingly or intentionally tortures an animal. For purposes of this Section, and subject to subsection (b), “torture” means infliction of or subjection to extreme physical pain, motivated by an intent to increase or prolong the pain, suffering, or agony of the animal. A person convicted of violating this Section is guilty of a Class 3 felony.

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In Defense of Animals’ Sustainable Activism Campaign supports activists in the field who prevent animal cruelty and promote compassion for all living beings, while providing self-care tools and emotional resources.

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 30-year history of protecting animals’ rights, welfare and habitats through education, campaigns and hands on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS • 3010 KERNER BLVD. • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • 415-448-0048