Ryan Berlanga, the Man Who Strangled a Kitten, Sentenced to Probation
8 months after he was captured on surveillance video strangling a kitten to death in San Antonio, a judge sentenced Ryan Berlanga to 5 years of deferred adjudication community supervision, a kind of probation. He was also ordered to 120 hours of community service.
In May, Berlanga pleaded no contest to two counts of felony animal cruelty. Judge Miguel Najera issued the sentence.
Alley Cat Allies offered a $10,000 reward that led to Berlanga’s arrest. We called for the maximum sentence: 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
If not for our reward and the action of the many people who brought attention to the case, Berlanga may have never been arrested or charged. We are glad to have achieved that. However, we are highly disappointed in the sentence. It is a very lenient penalty for Berlanga’s heinous acts.
Berlanga deserved nothing less than the strongest possible penalty under the law. That would have not only been true justice but also an effective deterrent against future acts of cruelty.
Alley Cat Allies will continue fighting for arrests and convictions in cruelty cases, vigorous enforcement of cruelty laws, and the maximum penalties for offenders. Join us at alleycat.org/Anti-Cruelty.
Leetsdale, Pennsylvania, Agrees to Exempt Cats from At-Large Laws
When the Leetsdale mayor herself reached out to Alley Cat Allies to ask how to approach community cats, we seized the opportunity to make lifesaving change.
The city’s ordinance, as it stood, included cats in the definition of “at large.” In other words, community cats were at risk of being impounded by animal control simply for existing outdoors.
We explained why change was needed right away—and in June, Leetsdale approved an amendment to the ordinance to exempt cats from the at-large law! The amendment will be officially on the books once the county confirms it.
To keep up the momentum, Alley Cat Allies will continue to work in Leetsdale to support laws and policies that protect TNR, community cats, and the caregivers and advocates who dedicate so much to them.
Too many communities operate with laws that suppress important TNR work, and place community cats in danger of being impounded and killed. These laws are often at the local level—enacted by city and county governments.
That’s why Alley Cat Allies urges all cat advocates to start by reviewing and understanding the laws in their own neck of the woods. We have a guide to help.
Ellie Transformed from Sickly Kitten to Happy, Healthy Young Cat
Ellie came back to visit one of our veterinary partners for a checkup, and we can’t get over how much she’s grown! It’s night and day compared to the tiny, sickly kitten who first came into our care last year.
When Ellie first came to us as a single kitten, found without her mother, she was struggling with severe bowel issues and an upper respiratory infection. Dedicated veterinary care, day after day, brought her back from the brink. And soon, she caught the eye of one of the clinic’s clients! Ellie never even needed a Petfinder profile—a loving home was waiting as soon as she was healed and ready.
Now here we are, eight months later, and we couldn’t be happier to see how well she’s doing! Thank you for helping us save Ellie and so many more cats and kittens every day. You can help us give more cats and kittens the happy ending Ellie found by adopting or spreading the word.
Triple Your Impact for Cats and Kittens with a Gift Today
Let’s save more cats’ lives together! Right now, you can TRIPLE your gift to help cats and kittens, up to $100,000.
Until July 31, make 3X the impact for cats, supporting our fight against animal cruelty, providing lifesaving access to care (including TNR for community cats), and helping build a world that respects and protects cats as they coexist within our communities.