NEW YORK – A New York City teenager has been arrested on a felony charge in the death of a younger sibling's hamster.
Joseph Pentangelo of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says the creature, which belonged to a 9-year-old, died during a domestic dispute in June.
The 19-year-old is accused of choking and squeezing the 4-ounce hamster and throwing it on the floor. It was then thrown across the street, though a necropsy concluded the animal was probably already dead by the time that happened.
Pentangelo says the charges include aggravated cruelty to animals and child endangerment. He says three children witnessed the hamster's demise.
The Brooklyn teen was arrested Tuesday night. If convicted, she could face up to two years in prison.