A teenager in Hacienda Heights may face criminal charges after he confessed that he killed three kittens with a baseball bat and disposed of the bodies in the household trash, said authorities with the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control.
Marcia Mayeda, director of the DACC, said a staff member alerted authorities on March 7 to a possible case of animal cruelty. Officers were sent that day to the home located in the 15900 block of Leander Drive.
When the authorities arrived, they found the three domestic shorthair kittens were dead. The young cats were approximately two weeks old and appeared to be unweaned.
The boy reportedly confessed to an employee of Wilson High School that he had killed the kittens.
According to animal medical reports, the cause of death appeared to be severe fractures to the skull and head trauma.
“Cruelty towards animals is usually a precursor to other human-directed violence later in life. It is crucial to intervene in these types of cases early on to avoid the escalation of violent behavior,” Mayeda stated.
This case is being referred to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for possible criminal prosecution.
Authorities urge the public to call if they suspect animal cruelty in their neighborhoods. People can find more information on how to report animal cruelty at www.animalcare.lacounty.gov.
