PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A trial date has been scheduled for the two juveniles who allegedly encouraged two dogs to attack a cat on a Frankford porch last month.
The attack was caught on a home security camera. Video footage shows two boys, a 17-year-old and a 12-year-old, walking two dogs in the neighborhood on March 22. The boys are accused of encouraging the dogs to attack a cat on a porch.
Buddy the cat was mauled by the dogs, leaving him in extremely critical condition. His story was shared worldwide and garnered support from thousands across the globe. Earlier this month, he was healthy enough to enter foster care with the veterinarian who helped save his life.
The two teens were arrested, and they face felony charges of animal fighting, aggravated animal cruelty and related offenses. They will face a judge in May. A lot of information on their case is being withheld from the public because they are minors.
“At that time, we hopefully will learn what justice for Buddy looks like,” said Gillian Kocher, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania SPCA where Buddy received care.
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The two dogs also remain in the care of the PSPCA.
“They are getting everything that they need while the case makes its way through the court system,” she said. “What happens to them really depends on the outcome of the trial and what is decided by the courts. They may return to the custody of their original owners, or they may be signed over to our care.
“We are hopeful, should they be signed over to the Pennsylvania SPCA, that we can find them a new home. After all, that is the mission of the work that we do here. Not only do we rescue animals from cruelty and neglect, but we work with them, rehabilitate them and ultimately rehome them.”
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As for Buddy, his foster family hopes to make him a permanent member if he adjusts well to life as an indoor cat.
“He is doing so wonderfully there. His foster parents love him,” Kocher said.
“He was kept secluded in one room initially, but now he has a run of the house and he is doing so well with his foster sibling cat Teddy. His foster parents affectionately say they are the two most awkward cats in Philadelphia, but their relationship is blossoming and we hope it continues that way so that Buddy can officially stay in that home forever. Hopefully in the coming weeks, we will have some additional details and will let everybody know when we can make an official announcement about Buddy’s adoption, but for now, he’s doing wonderfully.”
Kocher credited the PSPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement Team, along with a public outpouring of support to help bring justice for Buddy. She added that Buddy is a symbol of hope for the PSPCA and the many others who have followed his story.
“Something horrible happened to him, but he was able to overcome it and will now go on to live a normal and happy life, and I think during this time we all can look for things like that,” she said.
Kocher expressed her hopes that the support for Buddy continues through the care of other rescued animals.
“In the weeks that followed Buddy’s rescue, we had over 150 more animals that were rescued from cruelty and neglect, whether that meant that they had been shot or stabbed, or neglected in other ways [like] not being fed. We were here for them, and through Buddy’s donations and all the donations that are made to our life-saving mission, that is how we are able to save so many lives,” Kocher explained.
“That’s how we can save ‘every Buddy.’ ”
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