Animal Abuse of Feral Cats: 60-Year-Old Receives Suspended Sentence in Appeal

A man in his sixties who killed a feral cat using an air gun he possessed illegally has also received a suspended prison sentence in the appeal court.

On the 2nd, the Second Criminal Division of the Gwangju High Court stated that it had dismissed the prosecution's appeal against Mr. A, who was charged with violations of the Act on the Safety Management of Firearms, Swords, and Explosives and the Animal Protection Act.

Mr. A was sentenced to one year and six months in prison, with three years of probation, in the first trial, and received the same ruling in the appeal.

In May of last year, he shot feral cats with an air gun on a street in Yeongam County, Jeollanam-do, killing one and injuring the leg of another.

He claimed that he committed the offense because he found the feral cats roaming around his house repulsive. Additionally, Mr. A is also accused of having stored the air gun at his home without permission from 2010 until last year.

The first trial court pointed out that "he committed acts of animal abuse in a state lacking respect for life, and the methods he used were cruel." However, it stated, "Considering that he acknowledges all his wrongdoing and has no prior record of similar offenses, a sentence was set."

Accordingly, Mr. A was ordered to undergo 40 hours of lectures on preventing recidivism in animal abuse and to complete 80 hours of community service.

The appeal court noted, "There are no new factors or special circumstances worthy of consideration in the sentencing, and the original sentence does not seem too light," thus upholding the original ruling.

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