PUHI – A 26-year-old Puhi man was arrested and charged on Monday with second degree cruelty to animals. Michael Wong was released without bail. A preliminary hearing has been set for Feb. 18. According to police, Wong was reportedly driving
PUHI – A 26-year-old Puhi man was arrested and charged on Monday with second degree cruelty to animals.
Michael Wong was released without bail. A preliminary hearing has been set for Feb. 18.
According to police, Wong was reportedly driving a Toyota sedan on Ono Street in Puhi at around 2:30 p.m., Monday, when he crossed the double solid yellow lines and struck an orange cat that was sitting on the road near the shoulder on the opposite side.
Wong then allegedly got out of his car, picked up the cat, placed the cat in a bucket and tossed the bucket in a rubbish can at his Ono Street residence.
A witness called police to report the incident and police responded.
The responding officer checked to see if the cat needed medical attention, but the cat showed no signs of life.
The officer then arrested Wong on the misdemeanor charge.
Around 8:15 yesterday morning, police returned to Wong’s home and recovered the cat from the trash can. The cat was then transported to the Kaua‘i Humane Society where a necropsy was performed.
The necropsy revealed that the injuries sustained by the cat were consistent with being run over by a car.
The owner of the cat was notified about his passing.
Kaua‘i Humane Society Director Becky Rhodes said yesterday that the act shows “a total lack of respect for life.”
She said the society is encouraging the Kaua‘i Police Department and county prosecutor’s office to pursue first degree animal cruelty charges, which would make the offense a felony under a state law passed in 2007.
For the charge to be considered first degree, the person must intentionally or knowingly torture, mutilate or poison any pet animal or equine animal resulting in serious bodily injury or death, according to Hawai‘i Revised Statutes.
“The law got passed to help get these people off the street before they do something awful to a person,” Rhodes said.
“The bottom line is the cat really suffered horribly and unnecessarily,” she said, noting a conversation she had with the witness. “It’s a very sad tragedy to have our community witness something like this at a time when we’re already really struggling.”
The Humane Society’s mission is to prevent the suffering of animals.
“This is a big step backward,” Rhodes said.
• Nathan Eagle, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or neagle@kauaipubco.com
