Man Gets 30 Days in Jail for Breaking Cat’s Jaw

A man who broke the jaw of his daughter’s cat Boots by striking it in the face was sentenced to 30 days in Los Angeles County jail Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to willful animal cruelty.

William A. Painter, 38, who faced a maximum penalty of a year behind bars and a fine of $20,000, was sentenced under a plea bargain between the Burbank city attorney and the Los Angeles County public defender’s office, which represented Painter.

As part of the deal, which was accepted by Municipal Court Commissioner Dennis Shenklin, Painter must also perform 80 hours of Caltrans work, pay $300 to the Burbank animal shelter and attend six months of weekly anger management sessions.

He also cannot use force against any animal.

Painter was arrested Sunday at his apartment in the 2200 block of North Catalina Street. Burbank police said Painter admitted that he hit his 6-year-old daughter’s pet cat with an open hand but asked the arresting officers, “What was wrong with hitting a cat?”

Painter’s wife, who called police, reported that her husband was enraged by Boots’ plaintive wails as Painter watched television. Then she heard the cat hissing and thrashing and her husband screaming in another room.

The feline was treated for a broken jaw and damaged teeth at Magnolia Veterinary Hospital.

Boots was scheduled to have surgery on his jaw Tuesday night, said Leslie Bauer of the animal hospital.

“He wasn’t doing too well yesterday, but he’s doing better today,” she said, adding that he appeared malnourished and bony.

On Tuesday, Magnolia employees said they received dozens of calls inquiring about Boots’ condition. Several well-wishers even offered to adopt the cat, which will probably remain at the clinic for a week to recover.

Burbank City Atty. Michael Many refused comment on the case, as did Public Defender John Haveson. But Police Sgt. Len Doran said there’s a lesson in the case.

“We all at one time get mad at animals, but there’s a line that most people never step over--actually causing serious physical harm to animals.

“If he’s going to get counseling for his anger, that’s probably what he needs.”