Strange

Dad gets 18 months for forcing girl to kill cat

by master_jim2008 | August 29, 2008 at 02:46 pm

1061 views | 2 Recommendations | 5 comments

MUNCIE, Indiana (AP) -- A man was sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting that he forced his 7-year-old daughter to kill the family cat by holding a knife in her hand and making her stab the pet.

"I am extremely sorry for what I did," Danield J. Collins said during his sentencing Thursday. "Everything is my responsibility."

Collins, 39, pleaded guilty to a felony count of animal cruelty and two felony counts of neglect of a dependent. In exchange, prosecutors dropped three other felony charges.

"This is not civilized conduct," Judge Robert Barnet Jr. said as he sentenced Collins.

Under the plea agreement, Collins must receive counseling and attend parenting classes and substance abuse treatment. The judge also prohibited Collins from owning a pet.

Collins was arrested March 13 after police said he forced his daughter to stab Boots, the family's 8-month-old cat. The girl and Collins' 11-year-old son said their father ordered them to stab the cat because he wanted them to "learn to kill."

Police said the boy tried to hide the cat from his father, but Collins found the animal and strangled it as his children watched.

Collins said he was intoxicated at the time and remembered little about what happened that day.

Deputy Prosecutor Judi Calhoun said she was outraged by the crime but agreed to the plea deal so that the children would not have to testify against their father.

Defense attorney Steve Bruce said Collins, a Navy veteran, has no previous felony convictions.

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phoenixesrose

at 23:32 on August 29th, 2008

I hope that the children get some counciling sessions too. It's one thing to have to kill because you're hunting for food, another to do so because of defense.

But having to do so in this manner - these kids will have some emotional and mental scars I think - because from the beginning it was clearly wrong - and they knew it - as evidenced by attempting to hide the cat.

Trisha313 (not verified)

at 11:15 on August 30th, 2008

I am horrified at the actions of this father. Anyone who has ever had a pet would know what it meant to those children to have to do as their father said. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around this much cruelty. My heart goes out to these children. Is there a mother in this household? I would strongly suggest that she leave this man and take the children where they can't be found. Any man who would do what this story has outlined is capable of unspeakable acts against people, as well.