Charges stayed in Craven kitten cruelty case

Charges have been stayed against a man and a teen boywho were accused of animal abuse at the Craven Jamboree last July.

According to aveterinary clinic in Lumsden, the kitten wasdrenched in alcohol and set on fire.

The man and the teenagerwere charged with causing distress and injury to an animal, however the crown has decided not to pursue the charges.

Crown prosecutor Drew Gillespie told CBC News there was noreasonable likelihood of conviction.

"The case at hand has a high public interest given that we have a vulnerable injured animal involved. But on the admissible evidence provided, the Crown cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt who injured the cat or that the cat's condition was bad enough to put those who possessed it under a legal duty to obtain help for the animal," said Gillespie in a written statement.

On Saturday, July 16, RCMP were tipped off that a kitten was being abused at a campsite inside the music festival at Craven, Sask.

They found an injured cat and transported it to TM'z veterinary clinic in Lumsden.

The following day, RCMP said they were investigating one man in the incident.

At the time, festival spokeswoman Kim Blevins said that individual was kicked out of the festival.

"We're extremely disappointed that one of our fans would stoop so low," Blevins said.

"I think it was someone that made an incredibly bad decision. We don't condone any sort of violence against people or animals."

RCMP then charged a man and a boy in a case of animal abuse.

The female kitten was later nicknamed 'Jamboree.'

The original prognosis was excellent, however the veterinary clinic was unable to provide an update Monday on the cat's condition without official confirmation from thecourts on the status of case.

Stayed charges can be re-opened, but according to Gillespie, that rarely happens.