Animal rescuer wants harsher punishments for animal cruelty

An animal rescuer feels if a Pueblo man, who is accused of videotaping himself torturing and killing a kitten, receives 18 months in prison, there will be more crime.

“This is a cat, but it was a living being and next time it might be someone’s child, daughter, or son,” said animal rescuer Barb Jones.

Robert Heckmann, 25, is facing felony animal cruelty charges.

The Humane Society says the video shows Heckmann trying to drown and then eventually strangling a kitten named Loki. The organization said Heckmann was arrested after animal law enforcement officers searched his home and found Loki’s body in a garbage can on Jan. 19.

Jones has been saving animals for 40 years.

She said she couldn’t watch the video.

“Sad, extremely sad, then outrage from what this helpless being suffered,” Jones said.

The Humane Society, and animal law enforcement officers said it found a number of text messages about the incident on Heckmann’s cellphone. One text read, “I feel like a (expletive) sick person… You feel euphoric and just don’t care what else is going on. A huge natural high. That’s why killing is addictive. I haven’t had that high in so long, and I’m pissed it’s already over.”

Animal law enforcement with the Humane Society rescued Loki’s brother, Stewie, from the home. Law enforcement officers said that Stewie witnessed the torture and killing but has not shown many ill effects.

Stewie has congenital esophagus malformation. He has toundergo surgery before being up for adoption.