Florida man accused of cutting tails off kittens

ANTHONY, FL (CBS12) — A man in central Florida is accused of cutting off the tails of five kittens.

The kittens are just four weeks old, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

James Steele Reid, 68, told investigators he did it on purpose after getting into an argument with the husband of the woman who owned the kittens. Reid volunteers on a farm.

According to detectives, Reid said, “Look at those cats and think of him.”

He then grabbed a pair of garden scissors and iodine and told a co-worker he planned to cut the tails off. A short time later, a witness told detectives they saw Reid come out of the barn with the tails in his hands.

A veterinarian told investigators the so-called “tail docking” had been done improperly due to the age of the kittens, the lack of anesthetic and the wound not being closed with stitches.

Reid is facing a charge of animal cruelty. He’s free on a $2,000 bond.