By G9ija
A man broke into his former roomate’s home and stole his cat before torturing the pet and sending pictures to its owner, it is claimed.
Chad Toney, from Iowa, U.S, is accused of physically abusing the cat and sending disturbing images to her owner.
The sickening pictures and video were sent to the sister of owner Spencer Kimm.
Kimm made the bold decision to share the images and footage on social media in a bid to get the cat, named Gladys, back.
His post was shared 3,000 times before it was taken down, after Toney received threats.
The animal was returned with the co-operation of Toney’s family, according to reports.
Family friend Dillon Franzenburg said “We gave him a choice: give us the cat, or go viral. And he said go viral.”
Toney has been since charged with third-degree burglary and one count of animal abuse.
After the pet’s horror ordeal, Kimm plans to lobby lawmakers to toughen up protection to animals.
And I’m also going to be working with Iowa’s director for the Humane Society of the United States to hopefully get Iowa’s animal abuse law stiffened in Gladys’ name.”
Writing on Facebook , he said: “I am so thankful to have Gladys back home, where she is now safe and healing.
But it’s important to remember that even when prosecuted, he will receive a slap on the wrist for what he did to my cat.
“Iowa is one of just two states that treats animal torture as a misdemenour.
“Other than Mississippi and Iowa, every other state treats what happened to Gladys as a felony.”