Animal abuse is illegal in all 50 US states and should never be tolerated. When it comes to pets, cruelty is even more eyebrow-raising to the general public, whether it's neglect, mutilation, or killing. Unsurprisingly, arrests related to animal abuse tend to elicit strong reactions.
Recently, a woman in Washington was arrested after allegedly harming a cat. The suspect was accused of strangling the feline in an apartment complex. And folks online are seriously outraged.
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On September 11, 2024, a woman was arrested in Washington after witnesses alleged they saw her abusing a cat, according to a news release via X. Detectives from the Vancouver Police Department's domestic violence unit in Washington "were at an apartment complex for an unrelated call for service" when the apartment's manager alerted officers. Allegedly, a woman in the apartment building's lobby visiting another tenant was observed "strangling a cat."
Eventually, police were able to locate the woman. She was later identified as Amanda Blanco, 34, according to court documents, per KPTV Fox 12. Blanco was arrested on charges of animal cruelty, KPTV reported. Her formal arraignment is scheduled for September 25, with bail set at $1,500.
The cat, whose name is Apollo, is "fortunately okay." Police transported the feline to a local Humane Society.
"Any instance of pet cruelty is heartbreaking," Sam Ellingson with the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, said in a statement to KPTV. "We're grateful to have the opportunity to provide the care and support this cat needs and deserves."
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A review of surveillance footage from the apartment lobby showed the alleged abuse, according to police.
"Upon review of security video, the cat did not appear to have done anything to cause Amanda to have to defend herself," a court document noted per KPTV. "The video depicts Amanda, who appears to be under the influence of drugs, holding the cat up by its neck skin and walking several feet then crouching down over the cat, with her arms in front of her and her torso moving rapidly back and forth."
It continued, "A witness told police she 'saw Amanda at that time with both hands around the cat's neck, appearing to squeeze the cat.'"
In the comments of the Vancouver Police Department's X post, people sounded off on the abuse allegations.
One wrote, "WTF is wrong with people that they have abuse animals! I hope the woman is spending the weekend in jail," while another echoed, "WTF is wrong with these people?"
Another X user pointed out: "What kind of a sicko do you have to be to strangle a cat? Seriously. That person has to be a danger to other people as well."
