FRIDAY NIGHT: Long Beach Police Again Ask Public's Help in Fatal Cat Burning Case

Updated with the reward doubling.

A young cat was so severely burned that it had to be euthanized, and Long Beach police and animal cruelty investigators Thursday asked the public for help in finding the attacker.

Long Beach police officers were called Sunday morning to the 1100 block of Daisy Avenue, where they found a one-to-two-year-old cat on a walkway, with its fur smoldering. It was taken to an emergency veterinary hospital where a veterinarian determined that the most humane course of action was to put the animal down.

Authorities describe the cat as appearing to have been "multi-colored, with dark grey or black as the predominant color, with a dark tail, white back feet and a patch of white on the face." It's unknown how long the cat had been injured when police were called.

Police and animal care personnel view animal cruelty as a serious crime and such offenders as likely to commit acts of violence on people. Animal cruelty is punishable by fines and/or jail time.

Asked whether there were any such reports in the cat-friendly Shore, Long Beach Police Department Violent Crimes Detective David Ternullo said there were none to his knowledge. As to advice for pet owners, he said:

"Probably the best thing I can tell you would be the same thing we tell folks in terms of other instances.…If you see anyone suspicious lurking around, anybody that's strange to the area or you feel is doing something strange, exhibiting some suspicious behavior, call 9-1-1. If an officer is around, get a hold of that officer and report it. Sometimes we tell people not to call 9-1-1 but things like that, and especially with all the types of serious things that have happened in the Shore (prowler, sexual assailant, serial rapist from years ago), please call. We'd be more than happy to send somebody out and check it out."

Late Thursday, a $1,000 reward was offered by the Community Action Team, a Belmont Shore group led by local activist Justin Rudd, for any information leading to the arrest of a suspect or suspects in the case. On Friday night, police said Friends of LB Animals is also putting up $1,000, bringing the reward total to $2,000.

Those with information on the case are asked to call Long Beach Police Department Violent Crimes Detective Ternullo at 562-570-7657, or to send a text or email to the LBPD website, www.longbeach.gov/police, or to Tipsoft, www.tipsoft.com. Police will inform the non-profits after they make an arrest.

Cases of animal neglect or cruelty can be reported to Animal Care Services at 562-570-7387. Officials say that improper care of animals can include lack of proper shelter, failure to provide food and water, unlawful breeding, and denying an animal needed medical care. As in other emergencies, witnesses to an an act of cruelty in progress or an animal in immediate need of assistance are asked to call 9-1-1.