A man who tortured cats to raise money from people who thought they were helping sick animals has received a record sentence in Virginia, according to WTVR.
Rodney Travis Jr. pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and computer fraud charges in Henrico County, where the court imposed a 15-year prison term and a $25,000 fine.
“Getting a court to recognize the severity of this being near the level of where people are often sentenced to murder is very important because while they’re not people, these lives do matter,” Henrico Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Dylan McAuley said.
As part of the scheme, Travis adopted cats from shelters, horrifically abused them in hotel rooms — namely, stomping on their heads to crush their skulls, injecting them with sedatives rendering them helpless, and grotesquely laughing at their suffering — and posted photos and videos of their injuries online. He then falsely claimed the cats had cancer and needed donations for medical care. Prosecutors said he collected more than $400,000, which he used to fund his music career.
The consequences for the cats were devastating. They suffered broken bones and other severe injuries, and some were even killed. However, one survivor, now named Sisu, has recovered from several fractures and is doing well in a new home.
Lady Freethinker thanks everyone who signed our petition calling for justice for these cats, the animal advocates who tracked the scam and shared evidence that helped authorities arrest Travis, and the officials who investigated and prosecuted the case.
We have spent years exposing staged animal rescues and other cruelty online. Before donating, please diligently research to check that the person or organization is legitimate. Learn more about how to spot and report fake rescue content here.
