Two 17-year-olds in the UK—a man and a woman—have been sentenced to prison after torturing and killing two kittens. The court called their actions “the most sadistic crime against animals.” The man was jailed for 12 months while the woman was sentenced to 9 months in a youth detention center.
Two kittens were found tortured and killed in a park in northwest London in May. Their bodies were burned and slashed. Knives, a blowtorch, and scissors used in the crime were also found at the scene.
According to the investigation, the crime was planned. Notes were found on the man's cellphone in which he said he wanted to kill someone and studied how to get away with the crime. He also said he killed the kittens to reduce his "desire to kill."
According to data from an animal welfare group, cases of cruelty to cats increased by 42% from 2021 to 2024, from 1,435 cases to 2,041. Reported videos and photos of animal cruelty on social media also increased by 27% this year.
This type of violence has caused public concern and once again reminds us of the importance of animal protection. Every animal abuse must be reported and immediate action taken to prevent the escalation of this violence.
