GEORGES TWP., Pa. — A Fayette County man is facing felony charges for allegedly twisting the neck of a cat he said had been hit by a car. The animal later died.
Ronald Manchas of Smithfield is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals.
According to state police, the cat had reportedly been thrown into the woods near Jarrett’s Trailer Court in Georges Township, Fayette County.
When the cat was taken to a veterinarian for treatment, it died from spinal-related injuries.
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Manchas, the maintenance man at the trailer park, told troopers that one of the residents told him the cat had been hit by a car and was crawling along the road.
He admitted to picking up the animal, taking it to a nearby field, twisting its neck and tossing it into the weeds, police said.
According to officers, the cat laid there for 16 hours before being taken to a veterinarian.
Volunteers with the nonprofit Cat Rangers say they know there is a growing population of cats in the trailer park, but this incident heightened their concern.
"It was paralyzed," said Gretchen Belan. "iit couldn't walk. It was still breathing. It was still semi-alert.
"It was definitely not hit by a car. It was shot and the X-rays proved that right in the spine. Even if he truly was thinking he was putting it out of its misery, it's still the incorrect way to do it."
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