Woman charged with setting kitten on fire in Elmira

A City of Elmira woman was arraigned Monday in Chemung County Court on a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals for allegedly setting a kitten on fire in February 2014.

Courtney Crane, 24, was arraigned Monday and released on her own recognizance, the county court clerk’s office said. Her case was adjourned to 9 a.m. April 17 for motions, the court clerk’s office said.

Crane also was wanted by state police on a warrant for issuing a bad check, said Craig Spencer, animal control director for the City of Elmira. If convicted on the aggravated animal cruelty charge, she faces up to two years in prison, he said.

On Feb. 9, 2014, Elmira police had responded to a home on Pleasant Street to assist the Elmira Fire Department in what was believed to have been a structure fire. Upon arrival, firefighters entered the home and determined it was not the house but a cat that was on fire.

The 6-month-old, unaltered male kitten was taken to Cornell Veterinary Hospital with severe burns on its face, ears, body, genitals and tail, and was admitted to the hospital in guarded condition. The kitten, which had been on medication and was not in any pain, was euthanized a few days later.

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