Kittens on the Dinner Menu in Deleware County

It's my job to cover both the good and the bad, but when it comes to some heartbreaking stories, like this one, it remains impossible for me to comprehend the depths of depravity to which certain humans can reach. This crime of animal cruelty is particularly heinous and I hope the perpetrator, if found guilty, is punished severely. Luckily, though, there is a good side to this story too. Forty-four-year-old Francis McGinley, whose court records reflect a long history of drunken shenanigans, told his roommates that he purposely ran over two four-week-old kittens with his truck, planning to eat them for dinner, according to the Delaware County Daily Times. Police said Holly Faulkner, Francela Jackson and Bridget Spicer, McGinley's roommates, called for help, while a very inebriated McGinley, remained in the bathroom talking to himself. Responding to the call for a "suspicious condition at the apartment," were officers David DeFrank, William Dowd and Sgt. Charles Fell. The three women were upset and crying outside the house when they arrived. Spicer told the police that the kittens were in the bathtub. When police went into the bathroom, McGinley was sitting in the bloody bathroom, intoxicated and talking to himself. When Ms.Faulkner questioned McGinley about the kittens, he allegedly responded, "I ran these two cats over with my truck and now they're my dinner. I am going to eat them." Before he was taken into custody, McGinley said, "Since when was it a crime to get drunk, officers?" Thankfully, the three women were able to save the kittens' lives. According to authorities, a black male kitten, named Nirvana, and his litter sister, a white kitten named Karma were both close to death. Responding to the call, the kittens were rushed to the Keystone Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center in Havertown, PA, by Animal Control Officer Dave Schlott. The kittens are now being treated for their injuries at the Delaware County SPCA. Schlott said, "When I picked them up, they were both cold. The black one was moving, but the white one was very still. She was breathing once every 40 seconds and had a very faint heartbeat. It was a team effort by everyone at Keystone to get life back into the white one." The director of community relations for the SPCA, Justina Calgiano said, "As far as I know, they're going to be okay. We're still trying to investigate what their injuries are." She added that Karma is responding to treatment and said, "She's very vocal. We think they'll be okay. They're being monitored and we're hoping for the best." f the kittens fully recover, they both will be available for adoption in about 4 weeks. Let's hope that they are not separated, especially since they have been through such a horrific trauma together. McGinley was released on $2,000 bail and is to appear for a preliminary hearing on October 27, before Magisterial District Judge Spencer Seaton. Share your reactions to this story by leaving a comment. Photos via Flickr users calico 13 and thepack