WEST WHITELAND Twp., Pa. (CBS) – Police and the Chester County District Attorney say a man has been arrested for animal cruelty after he was caught by police abusing a kitten.

Authorities say the kitten was choked with a rope, bleeding and was given heroin.

Police say the suspect, 24-year-old James Myers, was in possession of heroin and heroin paraphernalia at the time of the alleged abuse.

District Attorney Tom Hogan says, “The abuse of this kitten was a singularly depraved act. Heroin addicts abuse themselves, animals, and children without remorse or regret. What punishment is severe enough for this type of evil?”

When police first located the suspect he was allegedly abusing the kitten by his car. Police found the kitten bleeding from its face and several of its teeth had been knocked out.

Authorities also observed spray paint on the roadway near the suspect’s vehicle reading “Slam it you [expletive].” Police say it appeared the kitten had been dragged and/or slammed into the ground.

Officers executed a search warrant of the suspect’s vehicle. They found bundles of heroin, hundreds of used bags of heroin, 46 hypodermic needles, rope which matched the rope used on the kitten and a small box with cat feces in it.

Initially, vets discussed euthanizing the kitten because of its condition. However, when the veterinarian learned of the circumstances of the case combined with the kitten’s physical condition, she was able to determine that the kitten had been given heroin. A veterinarian revived the kitten by administering Narcan.

“And the kitten, just like a human coming back from a heroin overdose, suddenly bounced back up,” Hogan said.

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“I’ve never seen an animal abused by giving it heroin,” Hogan said.

The kitten is recovering at the clinic and will be transferred to another facility for adoption.

No one answered the door at Myers’ home in West Chester when Eyewitness News tried to reach his family for comment.

Myers has been charged with cruelty to animals, drug possession and related charges.

He is locked up on $25,000 bail.

Hogan said, “There is no excuse for cruelty to a defenseless animal. The West Whiteland Police Department should be commended for intervening to stop this abuse.”

Anybody with any further information is urged to contact West Whiteland Police Officer Marc Meshurle at 610-363-0200.

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