Animal Lovers Protest Brooklyn Cat Kicker in Court

Before the kick. Photo: Facebook/On the Real
Before the kick. Photo: Facebook/On the Real

Who the hell kicks a cat like a football — and laughs about it? Andre Robinson, 21, of Brooklyn, that’s who. A video of him punting a gray cat 10 feet into the air went viral in May, getting the young man arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty. He’s only spent a night in jail so far, but animal rescuers, who have dubbed the cat King, are not about to let  Robinson off the hook. They packed the courtroom at his first court appearance Monday, armed with signs that said “Justice for King” and “Convict Andre Robinson Now.”

In court on Monday, prosecutors reportedly said that they did not have a plea offer, and the judge ordered everybody back in court July 28.

“When I saw the video, I cried for two days,” secretary Shannon Krieger, who took the day off to protest Robinson at the hearing, told the New York Post. “How is that entertainment? I just don’t understand his mindset. Evil walks among us.” Another protestor said, “He should be put away.”

Robinson lured the 1-year-old cat to him with a pat on the head before sending him flying in May. Luckily, the feline was not injured.

Luckily, cat rescuers successfully got a hold of the abused street feline after a two-hour chase, and the ASPCA in New York City got him adopted into a home on Sunday, just hours after he was made available, according to CBS New York.

“King’s case reinforces the importance of reporting animal cruelty in a timely manner,” Howard Lawrence, senior director of operations, ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement, tells the Daily News. “It also illustrates the positive impact of animal welfare groups working closely with law enforcement, like the partnership between the ASPCA and the NYPD that helped King and brought his attacker to justice.”

The other lesson here: Don’t mess with cat lovers — particularly those in Brooklyn.