@NIck, there is so much wrong with your comment, I don't know where to start. First, stick to the subject, cuz we care about rain forests too. Did you even notice that this is the ASPCA blog not Greenpeace? Second, a "Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority (via mechanisms such as legal systems) can ultimately prescribe a conviction". A crime can involve a plant, FYI. Third, there WAS a human involved, and HE committed a CRIME. Animals are incapable of committing crimes, but unfortunately are often the victims, which is why there are laws for humans who commit CRIMES. And studies prove that most animal abusers move on to humans. Do you get it now?

What's wrong is wrong and right is right. Abuse of an animal is a terrible and sick thing. Trying to compare it to cutting down rainforests or an endangered species being wiped out is pointless. The bottom line in life is people need to do the right thing. Pretty simple.

Hey people, sorry to burst your bubble but guess what: crimes are called crimes because they cause PEOPLE harm or put PEOPLE in danger. While its immoral to harm or abuse animals, you're damn lucky that even the current laws exist, because they're pretty pointless in the grand scheme of things. You complain about this guy while rainforests are cut down and animal species die for your furniture. When a Humane shelter gets too full, they euthanize the animals. When a nursing home gets too full, they don't start euthanizing senior citizens. Theres a big difference between cats and people. Chill out there, you'll live longer.

I agree with Joyce, this man ought to be registered, just like a sex offender. A lifetime ban would be the LEAST that should happen to this rotten SOB. A more appropriate punishment would be isolated confinement with almost sustanance until that excuse for human life loses the same percentage of body weight that the cat was subjected to. Let him experience the same thing that he, himself inflicted on that animal.

I do not understand why it is that animal cruelty does not have a harsher sentence!! If this was a child it would be much greater! We need to find a way to get the lawmakers to look at these poor animals as real individuals who need real protecting! So the guy can't have a pet for 3 years...come on!!!! NEVER should be the answer.

KOP NNOOOOODF GGDR

I just want to thank the family who adopted Leo.

I agree with all of you. He should be drawn and quartered. But also remember that unless a child dies the penalties are not much stricter for abuse of children. And if it's your child that you abused they try to rehabilitate you and give you back your child. Come on people,lets get real. Children and animals cannot speak for themselves. Its time we protected them as well as we protect ourselves.

We really need stricter laws on Animal Cruelty. The punishment absolutely does not fit the crime. However, I am so happy to hear Leo is now in a loving home. Thank you ASPCA.

Davanand Raghunath of Ozone Park, if I start walking towards you on the street, you better run the other way. Including and especially if that means it's Queens Boulevard or Woodhaven Boulevard at rush hour. (Good thing neither of us knows what the other looks like, eh, Davanand?) Probation my ass. If you do this to a human child, you get jail time. START TAKING THIS STUFF SERIOUSLY, AMERICA

This guy should be drawn & quartered..... at the very least he should be thrown in that basement for a few months with very little food, water, or any other conveniences... Jail time??? That's too good for him, he would have 3 meals a day, a bed to sleep in, TV, and exercise. People like this, really makes you wonder how they treat children, another defenseless creature.......

The problem is, animal shelters can have him on a "Do Not Adopt" list, but what about the neighbor lady down the street who didn't spay her cat and now has 5 kittens to find homes for? She'll give the babies to whoever wants one just to be rid of them, him included. So do the agents make random checks on his house to ensure he has no pets? There's just no easy answer to dealing with sadistic bastards like this.

IF he had done this to a human, he would be in jail. I cannot have human children but found my 4 legged children give me and my husband total fulfillment. The comment from ms. Wolf is a non comment, if you get a speeding ticket that is a misdemenor. A misdemeanor IS NOT A CRIMINAL RECORD. in Nevada cooneys law was past making abuse of an animal A FELONEY. LOOK TO NEVADA AND FOLLOW IN THIER FOOTSTEPS

As said before, this will go on as long as there are not stiffer punishments for these voiceless victims.

How on earth do they force the "three year ban on owning animals"? I am totally against animal cruelty and think that if any person who abuses animals shouldn't be allowed to own another pet EVER but how are they going to keep this guy from getting another pet and doing the same thing to it?

really should have been jail first, I hope this person changes. In my thoughts another slap on the wrist!I wish I could get into the Whitehouse....there would be "Change" where animals are concerned.

I agree that he got a slap on the wrist. I dont agree with him being able to own another animal after 3 years, he should be banned from owning another animal ever again. And he should get more than 3 years for this crime. Where is the justics for this animal. I bet if it was a human being there wouldve been more punishment for him... Animals are living things too, come one people give more Justice for animals, the same for humans.

This is so sad, as I know from being around cats for the people I work for and they always want something to eat! Always nudging up against you and purring. They're so sweet. This guy needs a strict punishment!

Starve him to death!!

Jail time, then probation and then on a list never to have a pet again. Clearly he did not feel this was a pet anyway. OR how about locking him in a room and leave him there to starve - rescue him just before he requires too much medical attention so he doesn't feed off the health system

That's a weak sentence for such an aweful crime. Lawmakers should enforce tougher penalties and fines to animal abusers- then they should donate revenue to caring for abused animals...

Shame on hime. He should NEVER be allowed to own any kind of animal again for the rest of his miserable life. He should be sentenced to the same treatment and conditions that he subjected Leo too. What he got was a slap on the wrist.

Animal abuse should be a felony with significant jail time. It should also result in a lifetime ban on owning pets. There is no excuse for what he did.

Animal abuse should be a felony (with significant jail time) and it should come with a lifelong ban on owning another animal. There is no excuse for what he did.

I agree with Sylvia...one year jail time, three years probation, and NEVER allowed to own another animal. Put them on a list JUST LIKE sexual abusers and all animal shelters have access to THE LIST so they are not allowed to adopt. I know that doesn't prevent them from having an animal because animals change hands constantly. Poor animals.

Disgusting. This guy should be in prison, just like Michael Vick! And he should be banned for life for being anywhere near an animal. And he should be forced to go into treatment for his psychological issues.

When are officials going to take animal abuse and neglect seriously. It is a serious crime, when are we going to get some justice for these animals? We still live in the dark ages.

I'll never understand why they don't ban animal abusers from having an animal for life.

I am so glad they found and saved this Cat, But come on where is the Justice for this Animal. We need tougher laws for Animal abuse anyone who abuses a Animal should get 1 year Jail Time and 3 years Probation, if we pass a law like this, Animal abusers would think twice before doing such Harm to them..3 years probation is a slap on the wrist for almost killing a Animal, People who do this to Animals have no value for their lives, why because they have 4 legs and not 2? come on we need tougher laws in place and mandatory Jail time, no excuse for this behavior. No More Excuses, lets see some action taken for these heartless creeps...

I agree with Joyce on all points. This should not be even remotely tolerated. I really feel that the people who victimize animals should have the EXACT same things done to them but tenfold so they know exactly what the animal felt.

Yeah and go figure after 3 years he's allowed to have animals again! :(

you don't even want to know what I would do to this sick person.

That sick son of the devil needs to have a lifetime ban on being around animals, as well as longer jail time. But how well do they monitor that ban? How easy would it be for him to torture another animal? Animal abusers need to have to register just like sex offenders.