ASPCA Agents Arrest Man for Felony Animal Cruelty

NEW YORK, April 17, 2007—Humane Law Enforcement agents of the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) arrested Joe Petcka this afternoon on animal cruelty charges.

Petcka, 36, of Brooklyn, was arrested for the beating death of Norman, a male orange-coated, long-haired cat who belonged to a female acquaintance. On March 27, after the cat was left alone for a short period with Petcka, his owner returned to her Manhattan apartment to find her cat beaten and left dead. Norman’s body was taken to a Manhattan veterinarian who pronounced him dead and notified the ASPCA of the circumstances surrounding his death. ASPCA agents then began an investigation.

Veterinarians at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital performed a necropsy and discovered that Norman, who weighed just seven-and-a-half pounds, had sustained numerous broken bones and teeth. These injuries were caused by multiple, repeated blows.

ASPCA Special Agent Richard Ryan arrested Petcka on April 12 without incident. He is charged with one count of Aggravated Animal Cruelty, a felony, punishable by up to two years in prison.