A Ravenna Township man has pleaded guilty to to two counts of cruelty to a companion animal and two counts of attempted cruelty to a companion animal, after seven kittens and their mother were rescued from the trash.
Jerry Hardy, 59, of Salem Trail, placed the cat and her six kittens in a kennel, which was then placed in a plastic bag tied in knots with the intent to cut off air supply to the cats, according to an arrest report from the Portage County Sheriff’s office.
The bag was then placed in the trash.
The Portage Animal Protective League rescued the kittens after someone called police after hearing meowing coming from the trash can. The APL said at least one of the kittens had died by the time they were rescued.
The other kittens were in “terrible shape,” according to the league. The kittens were too small for their age, dirty and infested with fleas and worms.
Chalan Lowry, executive director of the APL, said the kittens are not yet available for adoption because they aren’t quite big enough, but they are doing much better.
The rescued cats were named Treasure, Sapphire, Ruby, Diamond, Opal, Onyx, Topaz and Emerald by the APL.
Lowry said she was pleased to see that Hardy had pleaded guilty. She said her office has asked for restitution in the case to recoup the costs of caring for the kittens.
Hardy was released on a $35,000 recognizance bond on Oct. 31 on the condition he not own any cats. He could be sentenced to up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine for the felony counts, and one year in jail plus a $2,000 fine for the misdemeanor counts.
www.news5cleveland.com
