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Kamloops cat strangler found guilty

The strangled cat was disposed in this dumpster.

KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops man was found guilty of causing pain, suffering or injury to an animal after he admitted to strangling his cat out of anger and frustration.

Kamloops Provincial Court Judge Christopher Cleaveley said he did not believe Steven Seidel, 28, strangled Oreo the cat out of lack of options, but out of frustration while he was in an intoxicated state.

He killed Oreo because he was angry and it was the easiest way to get rid of him, Cleaveley said.

Seidel drank almost 30 beer March 13, 2013, and consumed almost a dozen more early the next morning. He was so intoxicated he could not recall if he slept and was unaware that his girlfriend left the apartment.

He said he heard Oreo scratching at the closet door and assumed he was defecating on the floor so he grabbed him by the neck and strangled him before tossing him in a dumpster behind his home.

“He did not take time to think about Oreo’s pain and suffering,” Cleaveley said, noting Oreo’s pain would be obvious by the way he clawed and struggled.

Seidel said yesterday Oreo often defecated throughout the house and he was worried about the health of his unborn child and pregnant girlfriend. They family had also already lost one child to Ministry of Child and Family Development workers and he was concerned they could lose another because of the problem.

Defence lawyer Kenneth Tessovitch said the man made several attempts to find Oreo a new home, but was unsuccessful.

Crown Lawyer Alex Janse said Seidel did not explore all avenues before he took Oreo’s life. He didn’t go to a spay or neuter clinic, he didn’t take the cat to the vet to see why he was peeing, he didn’t even Google a potential cause.

“It could have been avoided,” she said. “He could have been surrendered to the SPCA.”

Instead Seidel strangled Oreo so hard, his right eyeball was protruding from his head and had internal bleeding

Janse said the scratches left on Seidel’s arms were evidence the cat did not die a peaceful death.

“An animal which is strangled is in a great deal of pain, fear, and suffering,” Janse said.

The fact Oreo was kicking and clawing is a sign of an animal who cannot speak, calling for help, she said. “The cat was fighting for its life.

The Crown is seeking jail time for Seidel as well as a ban on owning pets. He is due back in court May 15 to find a date for sentencing.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Cavelle Layes at clayes@infotelnews.ca or call 250-319-7494.

 

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