Saskatchewan

Burned kitten incident 'will not be tolerated' Craven Jamboree says

Officials from the Craven Country Jamboree have denounced an incident at the campground where a kitten was reportedly set on fire.

Cat taken to TM'z Veterinary Clinic in Lumsden for treatment

The Craven Country Jamboree's Instagram account shared a photo of a kitten after a veterinarian's office said someone had doused the animal in alcohol and lit it on fire. (Instagram)

Officials from the Craven Country Jamboree have denounced an incident at the campground for the music festival where a kitten was allegedly set on fire.

RCMP said they are investigating allegations about animal cruelty and said they responded to a complaint Saturday. Officers found an injured cat and it was taken to the TM'z Veterinary Clinic in nearby Lumsden, Sask.

Bruce Williams and Terry Ree, hosts and performers at the festival, spoke for the Jamboree in an "official statement" posted to Facebook Sunday.

"We have never experienced an incident like this," Williams said in the short video.

"Some moron hurt a cat," Ree added.

They added that the festival had taken steps to declare the cat its mascot and that a staff member had adopted the animal.

"[It] will find a great home," Williams said.

According to a Facebook post on the TM'z Veterinary Clinic's page, "drunken individuals were drenching it in alcohol and then lighting it on fire."

No charges have been laid, but RCMP say a man is under investigation under the criminal code and animal protection act. 

Craven Jamboree spokeswoman Kim Blevins said the man suspected in the incident was immediately kicked out of the festival.

"We're extremely disappointed that one of our fans would stoop so low," Blevins said. "I think it was someone that made an incredibly bad decision. We don't condone any sort of violence against people or animals."

Depending on whether the man is charged by RCMP and the severity of the charges, Blevins said he could be banned from the festival in the future.

On Sunday, the vet clinic posted again to say the cat, who has been named Jamboree, is "stable and comfortable". They say her prognosis looks "excellent".

The Craven Country Jamboree runs July 14-17. (Craven Country Jamboree/Facebook)