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MISSOULA - The Missoula County Attorney's Office is now reviewing the case involving the possible abuse to the four month old kitten known as Mercy.

Mercy had to be euthanized on Wednesday afternoon after an MRI showed it had a broken back. Missoula Animal Control officials say that the kitten was sent to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Washington State University in Pullman because it has MRI equipment and skilled surgeons.

Animal control also says once veterinarians discovered "Mercy" had a broken back, they had no choice but to put her to sleep.

Police responded to a home on 38th street Sunday night when neighbors reported screaming coming from inside and when police arrived, they found the kitten soaking wet, bloody and unresponsive.

Missoula Animal Control officials say that the suspect tried to flush the kitten down the toilet and that they also believe the suspect either stomped on it or threw it against the wall.

It's up to the Missoula County Attorney's Office to decide if charges will be filed in the case.

(from February 3, 2010)

MISSOULA - Mary Parker with Missoula Animal Control says the four month old kitten "Mercy" had to be euthanized Wednesday afternoon after an MRI discovered the cat had a broken back.

"Mercy" was taken to a veterinary hospital in Pullman, Washington.

The Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Washington State University has MRI equipment and skilled surgeons. Animal control says once they discovered "Mercy" had a broken back, they had no choice but to put her to sleep.

Click here to watch the video.

No charges have been filed yet against the man who's accused of trying to drown the kitten by flushing it down the toilet.

The Missoula Police Department is still investigating a possible animal abuse case involving a man who's accused of trying to drown a 4-month old kitten by flushing it down his toilet.

Since airing the story on Monday, we have received a lot of questions about why the man has not been arrested after reports about the extent of the kitten's injuries.

The City Attorney's Office says that according to state law, there are two Montana Statutes that apply to this situation, both resulting in felony charges to the individual, but the County Attorney's Office has not yet seen the paperwork on this case.

We also spoke with the neighbor who called in the disturbance late Sunday night and has more on the investigation.

It was just another night at home for some Missoula residents, but that quickly changed when Stephanie Lyons headed outside to smoke a late night cigarette.

"I just heard a man sobbing saying ‘please god help me, please oh god.'" That's when she dialed 911, but Lyons never imagined an animal abuse case would follow.

"I was really taken back that he was in there doing that to a kitten and I just felt even worse about not hearing it before" Lyons told us Tuesday.

Missoula police responded to the address on 38^th Street and that's when they found a kitten barely alive and in pretty bad shape...but she was still alive. She was rushed out of there and vets said with a shattered pelvis the kitten was lucky to be alive.

But the man who allegedly beat the animal was not taken into custody something that leaves the 38^th Street residents feeling confused and angry. And with animals of their own, they don't feel its safe to stay living right next door.

Veterinarians believe the four month old kitten named Mercy, is going to make it and it seems with community help, her shattered pelvis will be fixed and with all the community support its seems she will have a happy home in the future.

The Missoula County Attorney's Office advised us to check back in the next few days to see if charges have been filed. In the meantime, enough money has been given by generous donors to pay for a $900 pelvis surgery for Mercy.

Anyone who'd like to help out should call 541.7387 or send a donation to Injured Kitten Fund, Friend of the Shelter, 6700 Butler Creek Road, Missoula, MT, 59808.

(from February 2, 2010)

An outpouring of donations from the community will pay close to $900 surgery for a four month old kitten that was allegedly abused.

While no formal charges have been filed in this case, we are finding much more information about the Sunday night incident where the suspect allegedly tried to flush the kitten down the toilet and beat it so badly, it now has a shattered pelvis.

Animal control officials who told us that the same suspect actually adopted another kitten along with Mercy in early January and as of Tuesday, the second one is not accounted for.

We also spoke with the neighbors who share a wall with the man suspected of abusing the 4-month old kitten who's now cleverly named Mercy. They have four cats themselves and just don't feel safe anymore.

"I absolutely hope that this is see through to the full extent. It's disgusting to me, and it's wretched to not feel safe in your own home, and we don't, and it's a terrible helpless feeling" neighbor Barbara Bodle said.

Animal control officials tell us that Mercy will undergo surgery sometime this week and she is eating and in stable condition. We were also told there is a list of people who want to adopt the kitten.

Anyone who'd like to help out should call 541.7387 or send a donation to Injured Kitten Fund, Friend of the Shelter, 6700 Butler Creek Road, Missoula, MT, 59808.

(from February 1, 2009)

The Missoula Police Department is investigating a possible animal abuse case involving a four-month old kitten.

Police responded to the residence on 38th street Sunday night when neighbors reported screaming coming from the residence. And when police arrived they found the kitten soaking wet, bloody and unresponsive.

Missoula animal control says the suspect tried to flush the kitten down the toilet. They also believe the suspect either stomped on it or threw the kitten against the wall.

The kitten's pelvis was also completely shattered, vets are doing everything they can to keep it alive.

"He has a reasonable chance of making it through. He's showing good response to the shock therapy. The fracture in the pelvis is the biggest concern in that unless the bones can be brought out and realigned, probably with a bone plate to hold them in place, we're going to have long term complications of that," explains Dr. Paul Schaumberg.

"The surgery is going to be fairly expensive and we're hoping that we can get the community to stand behind this kitty and help donate some of the funds needed," adds Judy Vernier.

The Missoula Police department is investigating the abuse and no charges have been filed yet against the suspect.

The surgery will cost animal control between $800 and $900, and if you can help with the bill, contact the shelter at (406) 541.7387.

FIRST REPORT: The Missoula Police Department is investigating a possible animal abuse case involving a four-month old kitten.

A Missoula veterinarian caring for the kitten says he doesn't have enough history to know what caused the kitten's trauma, adding that police brought the kitten in at about 2:30 Monday morning with several injuries, including bleeding from the nose and mouth.

The vet told us that along with the injuries, the kitten was wet, unresponsive, in shock and had a low body temperature. Dr. Paul Schaumberg says the kitten is responding to the medication and doing fairly well, but can't yet assume it will make it.

"He has a reasonable chance of making it through. He's showing good response to the shock therapy. The fracture in the pelvis is the biggest concern in that unless the bones can be brought out and realigned, probably with a bone plate to hold them in place, we're going to have long term complications of that."

"The surgery is going to be fairly expensive and we're hoping that we can get the community to stand behind this kitty and help donate some of the funds needed" commented Animal Control Officer Judy Vernier.

The kitten is now in the custody of the Animal Shelter. The surgery will cost the shelter between $800 and $900, and anyone who'd like to help out should call 541.7387 or send a donation to Injured Kitten Fund, Friend of the Shelter, 6700 Butler Creek Road, Missoula, MT, 59808.