ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Three teenagers are facing felony animal cruelty charges after deputies say they encouraged their dogs to maul a cat to death.
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Deputies responded to the area of Pine Hills Road and Livingston Street on Sunday, Feb. 6 after witnesses called to report what happened.
While headed to the scene, deputies came across the three young men with pit bulls described by the witnesses.
While talking to them, deputies say one of the teens, identified as 18-year-old Alik Williams Mays, spontaneously uttered a statement about his dog accidentally killing a cat.
The witnesses who called told deputies they saw the teens kick a tree in a nearby parking lot, causing the cat to fall from it. The witness said, at that point, the dogs began to attack the cat in a “tug-of-war” fashion.
The witness said the attack continued for approximately five minutes as one of the teens recorded it with his cell phone.
According to police, in the cell phone video, one of the teens can be heard encouraging the dogs to continue mauling the cat.
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The witness told deputies she also saw Williams Mays kicking the cat as the dogs tugged at it.
While interviewing Williams Mays, deputies noted the presence of blood and fur on his clothing and on the mouth and legs of his dog.
An Orange County Animal Services officer responded to the scene and confirmed the cat would likely die from its injuries.
Deputies found cause to charge all three teens with felony aggravated animal cruelty.
Because two of the teens were only 15 and 16 years old, deputies also charged Williams Mays with two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was taken to the Orange County jail and has since been released on bond.
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The two minor teens were released to the custody of their parents.
Once they were photographed for evidence, the three dogs were released to the teens’ families.
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