Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Animal Cruelty at the Hands of Significant Others
By
Dave Hogarty
Published Dec 24, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Dave Hogarty
Published Dec 24, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
In recent weeks both a man and a woman have been charged with senseless violence against small defenseless animals - the woman for beating her boyfriend's cat to death, the man seriously injuring a girlfriend's dog.
Sarah Favorite is a 25-year-old woman who allegedly became angry at her boyfriend's Siamese cat Yoda. Annoyed by the animal, the young woman allegedly throttled the 17-year-old cat and repeatedly bashed it against the floor on November 29 and November 30. Suffering injuries including three broken legs, Yoda was euthanized after her owner came home to his East 86th St. doorman building apartment and found the cat lying in a pool of its own blood on the floor. Sarah Favorite was arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty.
Shortly after the killing of Yoda the cat, a man in the same Upper East Side neighborhood was charged with savagely beating his girlfriend's miniature Pinscher named Franklin. Doug Bolton, who is 24 years old, allegedly arrived at his girlfriend's doorman building on East 91st St. and proceeded to beat the 7 lb. animal so badly that he was found barely alive and with one eye protruding from his skull. Franklin is recovering, but is blind in one eye and is suffering from brain damage. Bolton is being charged with felony animal cruelty.
Both incidents are sadly reminiscent of the pathetic former Mets pitching prospect turned wannabe actor Joe Petcka this spring. The 205 lb. man beat his girlfriend's 8 lb. cat to death because he accused his girlfriend of loving the animal more than she loved him. The vet who examined the animal said that it died in extreme pain after suffering extensive injuries.
For information on how to fight animal cruelty, the ASPCA has an information resource page here.
Tagged
animal
animal cruelty
cat
cruelty
dog
east side
mets
petcka
Sarah
Upper East
upper east side
Dave Hogarty
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
A big, bright Saturn will be the highlight of NYC's fall stargazing season
Stargazers will have a great view of Saturn and two meteor showers in October.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 3, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
Mayor Mamdani has expanded enforcement on towing scams, but the unlicensed towing industry remains largely unregulated.
By
Liam Quigley
News
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
Mayor Mamdani has expanded enforcement on towing scams, but the unlicensed towing industry remains largely unregulated.
By
Liam Quigley
Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say
By
Ryan Kost
DOC negligence factored in death at Rikers' Bellevue hospital outpost, jail officials say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Conductor on NYC subway that dragged man to death may have skipped safety check, source says
By
Stephen Nessen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .