A Cambridge man is facing charges of animal cruelty following the surrender of an injured cat named Sage to the MSPCA-Angell. The one-year-old domestic shorthair arrived at the facility with fractured ribs, a broken tail, and lung contusions. Boston25News reported that the MSPCA’s law enforcement was tipped off on July 15 via an anonymous complaint regarding the abuse behind an apartment building.
During their investigation, authorities discovered a video that appears to show Sage falling from an upper floor, then being swung by the tail and slammed into the ground repeatedly by the defendant. "The person alleged that someone had abused a cat behind a Cambridge apartment building," MSPCA Law Enforcement Director Chris Schindler explained to WCVB. After identifying Jaydan Depina in the video, Cambridge police arrested him shortly thereafter. Depina has since been arraigned on two counts of animal cruelty and is scheduled for a dangerousness hearing later this week.
According to Schindler, this recent incident isn't Sage's first encounter with potential abuse. The cat was previously treated for a fractured palate and toes after a fall from a building last year, though cruelty wasn't suspected at that time. Further examinations have since revealed additional injuries consistent with earlier abuse. Despite these traumas, Sage has shown remarkable progress. "It’s been remarkable watching him become social, happy and loving — something that wouldn’t be possible without the incredible work of those treating and caring for him," Schindler affirmed in statements to local sources.
The MSPCA is currently caring for Sage, who awaits a neuter surgery before being offered for adoption through the MSPCA Boston Adoption Center. "Obviously Sage has some healing to do, but we were able to get him on the right track shortly after we were looped in thanks to collaboration between us, Cambridge Police, and Cambridge Animal Control," Schindler noted in an interview referenced by Boston25News. Members of a public are encouraged to report any suspected animal cruelty cases to MSPCA online or by phone.
