Cat-in-a-Bong: Disturbing, Peculiar Pet Abuse

TAMPA -- Earlier in the week, About.com's cat guide Franny Syufy forwarded me the hideous Associated Press account of Acea Shomaker, the man arrested for stuffing his cat into an over-sized homemade bong.

I had noticed the article but didn't bother to comment, simply because I was in Tampa for New York Yankee spring training, and I try to put limits on the number of animal abuse stories I'm willing to consider weird news.

But today we learn just what inspired this 20-year-old Nebraskan to do this to a 6-month-old kitten -- and it's just to bizarre for words. He says he was merely trying to calm the pussy down.

"I know for sure this isn't the first time someone has done this," 20-year-old Acea Schomaker tells the AP. "I'm just the first one to get caught."

One can only assume Schomaker built his 12-by-6-inch Plexiglass bong specifically for this unique brand of pet therapy.

And I might need a hit off that contraption after all the gross pet abuse we've seen in recent months. This includes:

• Paul Wood -- the Pennsylvania man accused of throwing the family cat at his wife, giving new meaning to "the fur will fly";
• Matthew Selk -- the Floridian who fatally stabbed his girlfriend's cat, dumping it in a Outback Steakhouse Dumpster, and Raymon Knez Jr. who took out his rage on two dogs and six cats -- all while his girlfriend's children watched;
• And then, there's the legal saga of Diane Sue Whalen of Oklahoma, who was charged with crimes against nature after police found more than 150 movies of her having sex with her dogs.

Photo Courtesy of Lancaster County (Neb.) Sheriff's Dept.

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