Two pit bulls mauled a popular and beloved tabby cat named Freddy to death while the dogs’ owners watched and celebrated, a report alleges.
Freddy lived at Michelle Flowers shop in Washington Heights in Manhattan, where the vicious attack occurred, the New York Post reported.
The incident occurred around 9 p.m. Friday outside the flower shop/bodega where Freddy has lived since being rescued by the store owners in 2020, volunteer rescuers from Cat Collective NY told the outlet after reviewing surveillance footage and speaking with witnesses, the report said.
According to the rescuers, the pit bulls’ owner and friends not only stood by and watched the attack but “smoked, danced and ate food while taking photos and mimicking the grisly scene,” the report said.
“Someone deliberately set dogs on a defenseless cat while people watched and cheered,” said Dan Rimada of Bodega Cats of New York, who described the incident as pure “evil.”
The store was closed, and its owners were home during the attack. Area residents who witnessed the gruesome incident alerted Cat Collective, who then informed the shop owners.
Upon hearing the news, the store owner reportedly “collapsed in tears,” the report said.
Volunteers recovered Freddy’s remains and took them to a veterinarian, where they paid to have him cremated, Emily Petit of Cat Collective noted.
In an Instagram tribute, Cat Collective NY remembered Freddy as a friendly cat who enjoyed sunbathing and receiving attention from neighbors, adding that he “brought smiles to so many.”
“Losing him feels like a terrible injustice, and we must ensure that the person responsible for this heartbreaking act faces consequences,” the group stated.
The animal rescuers are now working to identify the dogs’ owner and warn others about the attack. The organization is offering a $200 reward for information about those involved, the report said.
“Anyone with information needs to contact the police immediately,” said Rimada, who has been working with city Councilman Keith Powers to “fully legalize” bodega cats in the city by having them officially recognized as pets, which would provide them with better protection, the report said.
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