ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE AND INDIANA LAW EXCEPTIONS DO NOT SUPPORT FORMAL CRIMINAL CHARGES BEING REINSTATED IN ALLEGED ANIMAL ABUSE CASE
The evidence now received by the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney establishes that the two (2) cats that were destroyed by the individuals originally accused of animal abuse in Elkhart Superior Court were feral cats that had not only damaged a ceiling structure of the business property where they were captured, but also an item with established and documented value to the business. Over the week before the destruction of the cats, attempts had been made to find homes for the cats and to relocate one of the cats, which traveled approximately ten (10) miles to come back to the business property. These efforts were not successful, and the individuals responsible for resolving the matter made the choice to destroy the cats using a compactor that caused death within a few seconds of the physical injury that was inflicted. Each of the individuals, as well as the business that employed them, were cooperative and honest during the investigation. There was no evidence documented that suggested that any of the three individuals engaged in the behavior with the intent to cause suffering or prolonged physical pain to the cats involved.