Cat lovers around the world have rallied over the case of a beloved Brooklyn feline who was reportedly killed by a pair of dogs egged on b...
Cat lovers around the world have rallied over the case of a beloved Brooklyn feline who was reportedly killed by a pair of dogs egged on by their owners.
Tuxedo was mauled to death on January 13 after the owners of two dogs knocked him out of a tree with a stick and set the hounds on him, the New York Post reported, citing a witness.
Since then, a petition calling on the NYPD to investigate the incident and arrest the dogs' owners has gathered more than 17,500 signatures from people in more than 80 countries.
Tuxedo, named for his black and white coat, was known as 'the mayor' of the NYC Housing Authority's Breukelen Houses.
He had lived in the complex since 2011 as part of a 'managed feral colony' cared for by Latonya Walker, the New York Post reported.
'When it first happened, I wanted to die, I couldn't even get out of the bed for three days,' Walker, who has been feeding the complex's cats for more than a decade, said.
Cat lovers around the world have rallied over the case of a beloved Brooklyn feline who was reportedly killed by a pair of dogs egged on by their owners. Tuxedo (pictured) was mauled to death on January 13 after the owners of two dogs knocked him out of a tree with a stick and set the hounds on him, the New York Post reported
In response to a previous report by the paper on Tuxedo's death, animal rights group Animal Victory launched the petition urging the NYPD to investigate.
'The dogs ripped the friendly cat apart, causing fatal injuries. The [NYPD] is dragging their feet to make arrests and we want to show them that Tuxedo's life mattered!,' the petition reads.
'Please sign the petition today to let the authorities know that this animal cruelty case MUST be fully investigated and the couple must be charged!'
Walker has also claimed that the NYPD are not doing enough to investigate, the New York Post reported.
No arrests have been made over the January 13 incident.
The NYPD on Thursday said the investigation is 'active and ongoing'. Police officials initially said they needed to determine whether the dogs' owners could be charged with animal cruelty.
A petition calling on the NYPD to investigate the incident and arrest the owners of the dogs that killed Tuxedo the cat has gathered more than 17,500 signatures from people in more than 80 countries. Pictured: Comments on the petition
Some signatories of the petition pointed out that the dogs or the owners allegedly involved could pose a danger to humans as well as other animals. Pictured: A comment on the petition
Animal Victory CEO Janelle Babington told the New York Post that the petition will be sent to Rodney Harrison, chief of detectives for the 69th precinct as well as the New York State Animal Protection Federation. Pictured: A comment on the petition
Animal Victory CEO Janelle Babington told the New York Post that the petition will be sent to Rodney Harrison, chief of detectives for the 69th precinct as well as the New York State Animal Protection Federation.
'This crime in particular was extremely horrific and disturbing. It needs to be investigated and the people who did this need to be brought to justice or it will continue to happen,' Babington told the paper.
The group's petition has signatories from as far away as Zimbabwe, Egypt, Japan and Kazakhstan, with many outraged by what happened to Tuxedo.
'These so called human beings need to pay for what they did,' Ragnheiður Gunnarsdóttir, from Iceland, wrote.
'Barbarism must be condemned,' Thierry Goossens, from Belgium, posted.
'So what they are saying is it is okay to have dogs attacking cats… Here we are not allowed to do that kind of thing,' Helle Darling, a fellow cat owner from Denmark, wrote.
People across the United States were also incensed by Tuxedo's death, with some pointing out that the dogs or the owners allegedly involved could pose a danger to humans as well as other animals
People across the United States were also incensed by Tuxedo's death, with some pointing out that the dogs or the owners allegedly involved could pose a danger to humans as well as other animals.
'If NYPD does not see this is cruelty they need to get out of the law enforcement business. Next time it will be a child or an elderly person,' Louisa Cornell from Alabama wrote.
'NYPD please take this seriously!' Susan Ridge from Maryland commented.
'These people will easily abuse other people if they abuse animals. It's been proven over and over. This is a heinous crime.'
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