This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Read the disappointing update and take action.

A New York man is facing a felony animal cruelty charge for causing serious injuries to a cat. Demand maximum penalties in this case.

On November 2, 2025, a witness reported seeing a man carrying a cat in a grocery bag and slamming him on the ground before abandoning him. The witness immediately rushed the cat to the Hornell Area Humane Society (HAHS) for emergency care.

According to HAHS, the cat, now named Mister, suffered “a fracture of his left femur at the hip and multiple traumas causing blood in his chest and urine.” Thankfully, he had a successful surgery at Cornell University Hospital for Animals and went to a foster home to recover.

New York State Police Troopers identified the suspect as Deshawn T. Miller, who was arrested on November 6 and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a Class E Felony. He could be incarcerated for up to two years and fined up to $5,000.

The statute does not have provisions for mental health evaluation and treatment or restriction from engaging with animals. However, the judge has broad powers and may impose these terms. Help us push for the maximum sentence and the additional conditions.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Maximum Sentencing for Man Who Tortured & Abandoned Cat (Case #25110032)

I am writing to you in support of the prosecution of Deshawn T. Miller (#25110032), who was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals after he was identified as the person who cruelly put a cat in a grocery bag and bashed him on the ground, causing serious injuries.
 
I’m grateful to members of the community, rescuers, veterinarians, and state police who were involved in this case and provided the cat, now named Mister, with the care he needs. According to the Hornell Area Humane Society, Mister suffered “a fracture of his left femur at the hip and multiple traumas causing blood in his chest and urine.” His injuries required more than $5,500 in veterinary costs, but he is thankfully on the road to recovery.
 
What happened to him should never be tolerated, and I urge you to seek the maximum sentencing in this case, which could include two years' incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000. I also hope to see that he is mandated to mental health counseling, banned from having contact with animals, and required to pay restitution.

Decades of research show a clear link between violence toward other animals and violence toward people. When acts like violently slamming a cat in a bag into the ground are tolerated or excused, they teach that domination, harm, and suffering are acceptable. These actions reward aggression, desensitize people to pain, and reinforce the idea that the vulnerable can be abused without consequence. That mindset does not stop with other animals. Communities that allow violence toward other animals are cultivating behaviors that too often escalate into violence toward people, placing everyone at risk. In these times of escalating physical violence, why not help de-escalate it?
 
Animal cruelty must be taken seriously by the courts, and those who harm them must be held accountable. The public continues to demand tougher laws for animal cruelty, but they’re meaningless if they’re not used to the fullest extent or in the spirit they were intended.

I will follow this case to fruition and ask that you share my letter with the presiding judge. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Read the disappointing update and take action.