One juvenile has been charged in a recent case of animal cruelty in Torrington, according to Police Lieutenant Jeff Lamm, the officer in charge of the case.

Lamm was contacted March 4 by veterinarian Stephen Kerr, who told Lamm that a cat had been brought in to his office with 11 nails and four metal BB’s stuck into it. The cat had to be euthanized.

Lamm said that investigation into the incident yielded a suspect. Because the suspect is a juvenile, no name has been released. The juvenile has been charged with animal cruelty and will be appearing in juvenile court.

Under Wyoming statutes, animal cruelty is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $750. Aggravated cruelty or a subsequent offense is a high misdemeanor and punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

HB0046, recently signed by Gov. Dave Freudenthal, will make aggravated animal cruelty a felony. Aggravated cruelty is defined as “knowingly and with intent to cause death, injury or undue suffering, cruelly beats, tortures, torments, injures or mutilates an animal resulting in the death or required euthanasia of the animal.” The charge will be punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. The act will come into effect July 1.

In juvenile court procedure, the suspect will make an initial appearance at which he or she can admit to or deny the charge. If the suspect admits to the charge, the judge will determine the sentence. If the suspect denies the charge the case will go to a full trial.

Another report was received by the Telegram that two dogs were recently lost in the Huntley-Yoder area and were found a short distance from their home having been fatally shot. Lamm said he had no reason to believe the two incidents were related.

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