Demand Justice For Kane (A Loving Cat)
Demand Justice For Kane (A Loving Cat)
The Issue
Kane, a beloved cat known as the “Mayor of Spring Street and Court Street” in Saratoga Springs, NY has been an indoor/outdoor cat for roughly five years. Around the beginning of December 2023, a local restaurant a few doors away from his house started allowing Kane to lounge in their dining room and staff started feeding him scraps of food. Kane visited the restaurant often and customers enjoyed seeing him so much that they started posting pictures of him on social media.
On January 3, 2024, the owner of the restaurant, Anthony Gargano approached Kane’s owner, demanding that she keep Kane out of his restaurant. Kane’s owner suggested the staff stop feeding Kane and that they put him outside if he came in with customers. On January 4, 2024 Kane escaped his house and visited Anthony’s restaurant. He hasn’t been seen since. Anthony Gargano was arrested for animal abuse under New York State Agriculture and Markets law after he was identified for dropping Kane off at the Saratoga County Animal Shelter after hours.
Despite knowing Kane’s owners and that he was a companion animal, Anthony Gargano chose to remove him from his environment, transporting him in a personal vehicle over 10 miles away from his home. Anthony left Kane on the ground outside of a closed and locked establishment, after dark, uncontained, and without shelter. Kane was exposed to freezing temperatures (approximately 19 degrees Fahrenheit that night with strong wind gusts) and unfamiliar predators.
Although volunteers and Kane’s family refuse to give up hope, it is unlikely that Kane will find his way home. Flyers have been posted, and handed out door-to-door. Volunteers and Kane’s family have been searching almost every day since Anthony’s behavior became public knowledge. With no solid leads as of 2/12/2024, the chances of finding Kane are rapidly diminishing. Between the frigid temperatures and predators in the nearby woods, it is feared that Kane is no longer alive. Kane’s owner and her son have to lay down at night living with not knowing what happened to a beloved family member.
Kane’s disappearance has been hard on his family, especially his owner’s son. Kane was a gift for the son from his stepfather about five years ago; his owner’s husband suddenly passed away a few years ago and Kane became a coping mechanism for her son. Kane is deeply missed by his surviving family and the community that loved seeing him around the neighborhood.
Before the owner was informed that Kane had been left outside the Saratoga County Animal Shelter after hours, she started searching her neighborhood because Kane wasn’t following his normal routine. When Kane’s owner asked Anthony if he had seen Kane, Anthony lied, saying he had not. If she had knowledge of where to look sooner, there would have been a stronger possibility of finding Kane and returning him to his family. Anthony has not apologized to Kane’s family; he addressed his public statement to the community at large for “disappointment or inconvenience” instead of those who were directly hurt by his actions. Anthony has not contributed to any of the organized searches or made a sincere statement directly addressing his actions.
As community residents of Saratoga Springs, the Capital Region, and New Yorkers statewide, we are requesting that Anthony not be given a lighter sentence. The crime Anthony has been charged with has the possibility of up to a year in jail, and a maximum fine of $1,000.00. Since Anthony has not demonstrated remorse for his crime, we ask that if convicted he is punished to the full extent of the law. Although this will not make up for the loss of a family member, it will send a strong message that animal abuse is not acceptable in New York State.
We are sincerely asking all New Yorkers to sign this petition to support legal justice for Kane. He is a beloved family cat and staple of the Spring Street Neighborhood in Saratoga Springs, NY. He was wronged in the worst way possible and deserves voices speaking on his behalf. He represents all of our pets and what can happen when cruel actions are taken by humans. Kane needs to be remembered, and acts of animal cruelty need stronger consequences. A signature is not only support for Kane, but it is a statement that we stand together against animal abuse.
Please view the following media sources for additional information:
https://wnyt.com/top-stories/search-for-a-missing-cat-justice/
6,835
The Issue
Kane, a beloved cat known as the “Mayor of Spring Street and Court Street” in Saratoga Springs, NY has been an indoor/outdoor cat for roughly five years. Around the beginning of December 2023, a local restaurant a few doors away from his house started allowing Kane to lounge in their dining room and staff started feeding him scraps of food. Kane visited the restaurant often and customers enjoyed seeing him so much that they started posting pictures of him on social media.
On January 3, 2024, the owner of the restaurant, Anthony Gargano approached Kane’s owner, demanding that she keep Kane out of his restaurant. Kane’s owner suggested the staff stop feeding Kane and that they put him outside if he came in with customers. On January 4, 2024 Kane escaped his house and visited Anthony’s restaurant. He hasn’t been seen since. Anthony Gargano was arrested for animal abuse under New York State Agriculture and Markets law after he was identified for dropping Kane off at the Saratoga County Animal Shelter after hours.
Despite knowing Kane’s owners and that he was a companion animal, Anthony Gargano chose to remove him from his environment, transporting him in a personal vehicle over 10 miles away from his home. Anthony left Kane on the ground outside of a closed and locked establishment, after dark, uncontained, and without shelter. Kane was exposed to freezing temperatures (approximately 19 degrees Fahrenheit that night with strong wind gusts) and unfamiliar predators.
Although volunteers and Kane’s family refuse to give up hope, it is unlikely that Kane will find his way home. Flyers have been posted, and handed out door-to-door. Volunteers and Kane’s family have been searching almost every day since Anthony’s behavior became public knowledge. With no solid leads as of 2/12/2024, the chances of finding Kane are rapidly diminishing. Between the frigid temperatures and predators in the nearby woods, it is feared that Kane is no longer alive. Kane’s owner and her son have to lay down at night living with not knowing what happened to a beloved family member.
Kane’s disappearance has been hard on his family, especially his owner’s son. Kane was a gift for the son from his stepfather about five years ago; his owner’s husband suddenly passed away a few years ago and Kane became a coping mechanism for her son. Kane is deeply missed by his surviving family and the community that loved seeing him around the neighborhood.
Before the owner was informed that Kane had been left outside the Saratoga County Animal Shelter after hours, she started searching her neighborhood because Kane wasn’t following his normal routine. When Kane’s owner asked Anthony if he had seen Kane, Anthony lied, saying he had not. If she had knowledge of where to look sooner, there would have been a stronger possibility of finding Kane and returning him to his family. Anthony has not apologized to Kane’s family; he addressed his public statement to the community at large for “disappointment or inconvenience” instead of those who were directly hurt by his actions. Anthony has not contributed to any of the organized searches or made a sincere statement directly addressing his actions.
As community residents of Saratoga Springs, the Capital Region, and New Yorkers statewide, we are requesting that Anthony not be given a lighter sentence. The crime Anthony has been charged with has the possibility of up to a year in jail, and a maximum fine of $1,000.00. Since Anthony has not demonstrated remorse for his crime, we ask that if convicted he is punished to the full extent of the law. Although this will not make up for the loss of a family member, it will send a strong message that animal abuse is not acceptable in New York State.
We are sincerely asking all New Yorkers to sign this petition to support legal justice for Kane. He is a beloved family cat and staple of the Spring Street Neighborhood in Saratoga Springs, NY. He was wronged in the worst way possible and deserves voices speaking on his behalf. He represents all of our pets and what can happen when cruel actions are taken by humans. Kane needs to be remembered, and acts of animal cruelty need stronger consequences. A signature is not only support for Kane, but it is a statement that we stand together against animal abuse.
Please view the following media sources for additional information:
https://wnyt.com/top-stories/search-for-a-missing-cat-justice/
6,835
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Petition created on February 12, 2024