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Kitten Set On Fire In East Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Animal abuse strikes Baltimore again and the results are heartbreaking. A kitten set on fire in East Baltimore is now clinging to life.

Weijia Jiang spoke to the city's task force about this alarming trend.

Set on fire, left to die.

Police say someone did that to a 5-month-old kitten in the 2400-block of Baltimore's Llewellyn Avenue.

"They should be prosecuted, just like it's a human being. They all God's creatures," said Vincent Carter, neighbor.

Even veterinarians were horrified.

"I coughed a few times because the smoke was so bad," said Laura Cos, of BARCS Animal Shelter. "There was singing on the ears, on the entire body."

"She's extremely sweet, affectionate," said Cindy Wright.

Wright is fostering the cat who she named Hope since she's hopeful the animal will survive.

With 90 percent of her body burned, Hope rolled on the ground and put the fire out herself, witnesses say.

For now Hope is surprisingly mobile, even playful at times. But Wright says she has yet to go through the worst stage of recovery. Eventually all the skin that was burnt will fall off piece by piece.

"In the summertime we see a spike in cases. When kids are out of school we see more of these crimes," said Caroline Griffin, Baltimore Animal Abuse Task Force.

In fact, the city formed a task force to fight back.

Hope is the third cat set on fire in Baltimore this year alone.

Two 17 year olds were charged for doing it to Mittens back in January.

"We all know these animal cruelty cases are often an indicator of future violent activity," said Det. Kevin Brown, Baltimore City Police.

Mittens survived, also taken in by Wright. Now she's happier and healthier.

As for Hope's attackers, police say they're still out there.

The Animal Abuse Task Force says more than 30 percent of people who abuse animals are kids and teenagers.

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