“Shay Houston” with cat before being burned alive
A woman named “Shay Houston” posted a picture of “herself” next to a photo of a cat with its face taped Sunday evening. What appears to be a lifeless body of a cat evidently “won her bragging rights” after she was fed up with this stray cat and others like him repeatedly coming onto her propety located in Jackson, Mississippi. She wanted to stop them from entering her yard.
She also felt the need to teach the cat a “lesson.”
She claimed she feared the cats would bring harm to her young son.
According to “Houston”, the fur was burned and the cat was still alive at the time she took the photo and posted it on Facebook.. In a later post, she made comments to suggest the cat was not alive. You can see for yourself.
After posting her rants to social media, there were people who started their own firestorm of rants against “Houston.” They were livid knowing what she did and boasting about it via photos! Some FB posters pleaded with her to remove the posts and photos. Nothing was able to convince “Houston” to do the right thing. Eventually, the posts, pictures and page were removed but not before people took still shots of what was posted.
A news station and the police became involved after being notified of Houston’s images by concerned citizens.
Houston allegedly used a fake name.. She lives at this home while a reporter speaks to her mother at the same address. The mother refused to allow the daughter to speak to the reporter . The mother claims she knows nothing about a cat being burned.
Valerie Hicks, Community Animal Rescue and Adoptions board chairman, described the incident as “heartbreaking.”
“Cases like this are why we in Mississippi need to step up to the plate and demand better animal protection laws and proper enforcement of those laws,” Hicks said. “In the state of Mississippi, I just don’t think that our companion animals are given the protection from law enforcement that they deserve, particularly being that we’re the only voice they have.”
First offense animal cruelty is NOT a felony in the state of Mississippi. A misdemeanor at best for inflicting immeasurable pain and suffering to an animal.
Animal cruelty is supposed to be a felony in all 50 states. Tell that to the state of Mississippi!
“A woman saying she is Houston called the station Tuesday to say the alleged arson “never happened.” She said it was a “joke” and that she took the photo from elsewhere on the Internet, but refused to provide a source link. Not sure if that is believable after hearing what her neighbors have to say (read below).
Officer Colendula Green with the Jackson Police Department said they were aware of the post but did not have enough information to pursue the case.
Essentially, the investigation hit a standstill, until they uncovered another detail: the woman’s real name and address.
That led us to her Lake Forest Drive home.
The irony I found in this case is what the neighbors had to say about the cat being burned alive. Here is what some had to say to the reporter:
Other neighbors tell us the community is crawling with cats.
“I had to call animal control a couple of months ago,” said Cynthia Thomas. “I had to get two cats down from my attic. They were small little old kittens.”
Thomas lives a few houses down from Houston, and told us that feral cats, like the one on Facebook, are more than just a problem.
“It’s really a hazard, health hazard situation, because you don’t know what those cats are up to in your attic,” added Thomas.
NOT ONE MENTION ABOUT THE CAT BURNED ALIVE WITH ITS FACE TAPED!
I hear the frustrations about the feral cat issue in their neighborhood. Animal control or a local TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) program can be implemented in that area. Not too sure if the neighbors would be receptive to such a program. They have a stray/feral cat program that is allowing cats to procreate increasing the numbers of unwanted cat and kittens living in the area.
It is that much of a problem they had to tell the news first about being overrun by them.
Interestingly, there was no mention of the burned cat. Are the people that cold and lack compassionate thta they don’t realize this woman committed animal cruelty in a brutal manner? Do they share “Houston’s view of taking care of the stray cats? If they do, God help us all.
The firestorm and backlash has been huge against this woman. They want justice. There has been a call for an “eye for an eye.” Others want her punishment to be the same as what was done to the cat.
There are petitions for people to sign for this cause but I won’t post any. One has to be cautious when signing them. Some are never forwarded to the people involved and some petitions are used to get your private information so your identity can be stolen.
In my personal opinion, I find that this woman lacks empathy to understand how others feel and react to physical pain. To her, this entire incident was funny. This is not a normal response. Empathy is an awareness of the feelings and emotions of others It is a key element of emotional intelligence, the link between self and others and it is how we understand what others are experiencing as if we were feeling it ourselves.
This woman needs to be charged with animal cruelty, at the very least. “Houston’s” behavior suggests she may have a personality disorder just by reading her messages. This is only my opinion but i feel she may benefit from receiving counseling to help understand how hurting animals is not funny and can lead to hurting people.
She was afraid of the cat hurting her son. I’d be more afraid that the mother could potentially harm her son on an emotional level for teaching and showing her child no respect or kindness toward animals.
Have a story, please email me at tevangelistaepp@yahoo. Like my tv page at https://www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookAtAnimalWelfareIssues.
Shay Houston or whatever her name is a psychopath! Enjoying killing an innocent cat makes her psychotic. Either way, she needs to be locked up and have the key thrown away. It doesn’t seem like the neighbor’s give a rat’s behind about the murder of the cat either. Stop feeding the cats if you don’t want them in your area. Tell neighbors to stop letting your cats outside and have them spayed or neutered! No, let’s kill them. That will solve the problem Lunatic! I feel sorry for her son!
POS
She has a mental issue. Burning a cat alive and posting photos are NOT the actions of a sane person. Has she been arrested? Her mom had to know something was up. How do you hide the burning of a cat? Her child should be removed from her. She is not safe to her own child. Abuse starts with hurting and killing animals. She needs help.