Cat Abuse on MySpace: A Stepping Stone

"Stump is 19 pounds, which is overweight, but is otherwise healthy," she said. "He suffered no lasting damage as a result of the alleged abuse."

The cat may be returned to its owner and is not available for adoption, she said. Another cat and a dog were taken from the same residence.

The head of one of the city's oldest animal-protection organizations worries that children who abuse animals can grow up to become people who abuse other people.

"I certainly think that seeing young children involved in animal abuse is a scary thing," said Martha Boden, CEO of the Humane Society of Indianapolis. "The more quickly we can try to help the children, the animals and the family involved, the better."

PETA agrees. "People who abuse animals rarely stop there," DeJournett said. " . . . There's a definite link between cruelty to animals and an abuse of people."

Catabusers