A video posted on Facebook in early February showed a man coaxing a cat, pictured here, toward him before pouring a pot of boiling water on the animal.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – Nearly two months after a disturbing video surfaced showing a man scalding a cat with a pot of boiling water, that same cat has found a happy new home.
A video posted on Facebook in early February showed a young man coaxing a cat toward him before pouring a pot of boiling water on the animal. The footage sparked nationwide outrage as it spread across social media like wildfire, prompting a police investigation.
Eighteen-year-old Leon Teague, of South Martin Luther King Drive, was later charged with one felony count of animal torture and one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty. It’s not clear if Teague has hired an attorney.
The cat was found, thanks to a rescue effort which was organized by two Chicago women, and taken to Felines & Canines animal shelter in Edgewater.
Now, the cat, named Driver, has been adopted after more than a month rehabilitating from his terrible injuries, according to the shelter’s Facebook page.
Calling the incident “one of the most horrific assaults we’ve ever seen,” executive director Abby Smith detailed the treatment Driver endured.
According to Smith, Driver suffered third-degree burns and other subsequent infections, requiring two weeks of hospitalization in the ICU, laser therapy, wound cleaning three times a day and more.
After a very diligent screening process, the shelter was “over-the-moon” to announce Driver’s adoption this week, Smith said. With three new sisters to play with, Driver’s new home has “the most gentle, loving family where Driver will know absolutely nothing but kindness, love, and napping in the sunbeams for the rest of his life,” according to Smith.
It’s official – Driver has been adopted!!! After enduring one of the most horrific assaults we’ve ever seen, Driver…
Posted by Felines & Canines on Thursday, March 17, 2016
The shelter also established “Driver’s Fund” to help rescue and care for other animals suffering from extreme injury or illness.
