Stray Cat Burned, Killed in Brooklyn; Suspect Sought

The Brooklyn prosecutor's office and the Animal League Defense Fund are offering a $1,000 reward in the cat-burning case

Authorities in Brooklyn are searching for the person or persons who set an orange tabby cat on fire, burning his fur and skin and melting his claws, ultimately killing the animal. 

Someone used an accelerant to set the stray cat on fire in the Tompkins Houses in Bedford-Stuyvesant on May 24, the Brooklyn prosecutor's office said. The cat had been living in the 12th-floor stairwell and was fed by various residents.

A neighbor discovered the burned cat last month and called 911, according to the prosecutor's office. Responding officers took the cat, which was so badly burned that tissue was exposed, to Animal Care and Control, where the veterinary staff stabilized him.

He was then sent to North Shore Animal League for more treatment, but died soon after from his injuries. 

It's not known if the cat was burned inside 200 Throop Ave. or if he was attacked elsewhere and returned to the building, authorities said.

The prosecutor's office and the Animal Legal Defense Fund have announced a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects (see flyer below; warning: graphic image). The crime hotline phone number is 718-250-4400.

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