Police release photos of 'persons in the area' near cat set on fire

BREMERTON -- Police released two photos of persons of interest in the intentional burning of a cat late Sunday night.

Sunday,  a man was out for a walk near the intersection of 15th Street and High Avenue when he spotted something on fire that appeared to be moving near the Bremerton High School tennis courts. He walked over, and found an adult yellow cat on fire, police said.

The man immediately called 911.

When officers arrived on scene, the cat was no longer on fire but was “writhing in pain,” Chief Steven Strachan of the Bremerton Police Department said. Officers took the cat to the Kitsap Humane Society where veterinarians found it had extensive burns to the back, tail and head. The animal was humanely euthanized after vets determined its injuries were too severe to recover from.

Bremerton police released two grainy photos of persons in the area of the cat being burned Tuesday.

With very few leads, Bremerton police say they’re scouring the neighborhood for answers. Those who live in the area want answers, too.

“It makes me wonder what kind of neighbors we have,” said Normal Sanchez, who lives near the Bremerton High School tennis courts with his wife and infant son. “Just knowing someone would be capable of doing that, it's pretty cruel.”