Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced Tuesday, May 26, that a Bronx man was indicted for causing the death of his family’s cat by allegedly throwing the animal out of his 15th floor apartment window after the cat scratched him.

 

Clark said the defendant, Miguel Perez, 32, of the Mitchell Housing Complex in The Bronx was arraigned on May 21 on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and torturing and injuring animals before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Timothy Lewis. She said he is due back in court in July 2026.

 

“We are supposed to love and care for our companion animals,” Clark said. “Allegedly, in a fit of rage, this defendant tossed the family’s cat out of his apartment window, causing the animal’s death. The abuse of animals will not be tolerated.”

 

According to the investigation, on March 4, at around 10.20 a.m., Perez became upset after Shadow, his family’s small black cat, scratched his hand and allegedly threw the cat out of a window of the 15th floor apartment, causing its death when it hit the pavement below.

 

Perez is presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

 

In March, David Mosley was due to appear at Bronx Criminal Court for charges relating to the alleged torture and killing of a cat in The Bronx, after videos appeared online of the dead cat and amid allegations of the killing and ritualistic torture of the cat by animal rights groups and others.

 

In May 2023, another Bronx man was charged, as reported, for allegedly slamming an animal’s head against a table and killing it. In August 2025, a Belmont man was arrested after allegedly abusing and malnourishing nine dogs. In May 2024, the owner of a Pitbull which savagely attacked a cat was arrested on animal cruelty and other charges in the University Heights section of The Bronx.

 

In May 2022, 23 alleged River Park Towers gang members were charged with attempted murder, animal cruelty and other charges.  Norwood News readers weighed in on the topic of animal cruelty as part of our Inquiring Photographer series in October 2025.

 

In July 2025, as reported, then-NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced a $1 million investment in animal care centers in the City to increase capacity and hire more staff. City shelters had at one point stopped taking in abandoned animals as they were at capacity. New Yorkers are encouraged to adopt not buy.

 

For hours and services for each of ACC’s locations call (212) 788-4000, 10AM – 6PM, 7 days a week. For help, please call (212) 788-4000
email: CommunityPets@nycacc.org, nycacc.org/services/surrender.

 

Meanwhile, City Council Speaker Julie Menin (C.D. 5) and City Council Member Harvey Epstein (C.D.2 ) announced the launch of a new city council animal welfare caucus in March.

In other animal-related news, as reported, a man was reportedly seen with a large snake around his neck at Woodlawn subway station on Sunday, May 31. As also reported recently, a Bronx Zoo keeper was hospitalized after he was bitten by a reptile while feeding it.

 

In New York City, animal abuse can be reported by calling 311 or 911 for crimes in progress. The NYPD has an Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad (ACIS) that works with the ASPCA to address and prevent animal cruelty. The ASPCA provides crucial support, including forensic evaluations and medical treatment for rescued animals. 

 

The latest case involving Shadow is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Mary Ann Liebowitz, director of the Bronx DA’s animal cruelty prosecution initiative, under the supervision of Denise Kodjo, deputy chief of the investigations division and Wanda Perez-Maldonado, chief of the investigations division.

 

Clark thanked Trial Preparation Assistant Jeanette Pol for her assistance in the case and NYPD Detective Daniel Angen from the Bronx District Attorney’s Squad for his work in the investigation.

 

She also thanked NYPD Officers Shanya Gonzalez and Natanael Castro of PSA-7 Precinct and Shawn Perry and Veronica Rodriguez from the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) respectively for their work and assistance with the investigation.