People ‘at risk next’

By Callan Date
RSPCA officials believe the person who sexually abused and tortured a Berwick cat last week may shift any future violence towards humans.
The statement follows public outrage at the brutal attack on Bullet, a 12-month-old cat, who was burnt and had his tail dislocated after being stolen from near his Berwick house in Carluke Close.
The white feline also suffered major internal damage according to veterinarian Joanne Gill, who treated Bullet after he was brought into the South Eastern Animal Emergency Centre in Hallam early on Saturday morning.
Ms Gill said Bullet’s injuries were so extensive he was put down.
“He had a dislocated tail which was consistent with him trying to run away while still being held and pulled back by the tale.
“He also had a very swollen anal region with lubrication evident.
“There was singed hair on the right side of his body too,” Ms Gill said.
Ms Gill said she was shocked to see a cat treated in such a horrendous way.
“In the 11 years of veterinary work and three years of emergency veterinary work I have done, I would have to say this is one of the most severe and horrific cases of animal cruelty I have ever seen.”
Distressed owner Kate Arnol, who has only lived in Berwick for two months, said she was in shock when she first found out what had been done to Bullet – a pet she had owned since he was 12-weeks-old.
“I just broke down,” she said.
“For someone to do these things to something so small and innocent. It has only really sunken in over the last few days,” Ms Arnol said.
She said she would be happy for the attacker to be sent to jail if they were caught.
“There has to be something mentally wrong with them.”
RSPCA inspectorate services manager Greg Boland said the perpetrator needed to be caught.
“The deviant behavior that has been shown by whoever has done this suggests that this person is quite sick in the mind and needs to be stopped,” he said.
“This is at the extreme end of aggravated cruelty towards animals,” Mr Boland said.
Anyone convicted of such an offence can face fines of up to $12,000 or 12 months in jail.
“There is documented clinical evidence that people who commit acts of animal cruelty escalate towards violent behavior towards people.”
The RSPCA and Victoria Police will conduct a joint investigation into the crime.
Narre Warren Acting Sergeant Glenn Kilburn said the investigation had so far proven difficult.
He said police would be relying heavily on public assistance to help them catch the attacker.
Act Sgt Kilburn said the cat attack occurred on the same weekend a pet rabbit was found beaten to a death in a Narre Warren South backyard.
He said police believe the acts of cruelty were not related.
Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.