Cat doused in gas, humane society and police investigating

THUNDER BAY -- There is something disturbingly wrong with the kind of behaviour that leads a person to douse an animal in gasoline, says the executive director of the Thunder Bay and District Humane Society.

Maryann Kleynendorst said they were alerted by the Thunder Bay Police Services about a cat that was found doused in gasoline in the 1400 block of Mary Street West.

The cat was brought to the Humane Society Tuesday morning by the family that found him and he had been bathed twice already.

Kleynendorst said they immediately brought him to their veterinarian and they applied a product to him to neutralize the smell and oiliness of the gasoline.

“He seems to be doing very well. He’s quite stressed and it’s hard to tell if he’s lethargic or just exhausted from everything he’s gone through and all the baths he’s had to have,” said Kleynendorst.

The Humane Society has heard reports of other cats possibly drenched in gasoline and the incident is alarming to Kleynendorst.

“I can’t imagine what would cause a person to do something like this. You’d hate to think it’s just a prank. If that is the case, it someone out there thinks this is a funny thing to do to cats, maybe they will see the rest of the community doesn’t find this so funny,” she said.

Kleynendorst said she doesn’t think it’s possible the cat somehow became doused on its own; she said it almost certainly seems deliberate.

“You have to wonder what the person’s next step – end goal was. Was the end goal to ignite this animal, which is almost unimaginable and horrific?” she said.

The investigation is ongoing and Kleynendorst said anyone with any information or who sees an animal in danger can call the Humane Society at 475-8803 or they can call Thunder Bay Police Services.