Shelter thanks boy who aided kitten

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The Suffolk Humane Society has publicly thanked the boy the came to the aide of a kitten that was badly beaten by a 12-year-old last week.

Michelle Thames, the president of the Board of Directors of the Suffolk Humane Society, said in a press release that the boy who attempted to save the kitten's life, "deserves all the accolades in the world," for his efforts. "It is very difficult to stand up for what is right and it is never right to harm an animal in an act of violence," she said.

"The Suffolk Humane Society would like to publicly thank the boy for his heroic actions," she said in the press release.

Thames went on to say,"Our hope is that all children will feel empowered to stand up for what is right and just as they grow up."

On May 28, some kids were playing with the stray kitten when a 12-year-old boy came up, grabbed the kitten, threw it against the wall and threatened to cut it with a knife. That's when another one of the kids knocked the knife out of the child's hand.

The other children then picked up the kitten and put it in a cardboard box.

The kitten passed away on Friday.

Thames said that although there has been an outpouring of anger toward the 12-year-old who is accused of abusing the kitten, the Humane Society hopes "the 12 year old child gets the help he needs so that he can stop the cycle of abuse and cruelty."

The 12-year-old has been charged with animal cruelty.