WEST ISLIP, N.Y. – A man who didn't get along with his neighbor trapped her cat in his backyard and then took it to an animal shelter to be euthanized, police said.
Regina Fagone searched the neighborhood for two days earlier this month after her cat disappeared, and then went to the Town of Islip Animal Shelter.
Employees there broke the news to her: Her cat, a Russian blue, had been euthanized that day.
Richard DeSantis, 56, was arrested Saturday and was charged with criminal mischief, criminal possession of stolen property and making a punishable false written statement, police said. He was issued a desk appearance ticket and will be arraigned June 5.
DeSantis, reached by telephone at his home Sunday, said there are two sides to every story and then hung up.
Police said an investigation found DeSantis had captured the cat and dropped it off at the shelter to be killed.
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