Destin man tortured by kitten's sledgehammer death plans rally

CRESTVIEW - Two days after 19-year-old Michael Tracy Long Jr. was charged with felony animal cruelty in the death of kitten, the same charge was brought against his father, Michael Tracy Long.

Both men are due to appear in court on Oct. 7 at 1:30 p.m. They are accused of killing the kitten with a sledgehammer and then throwing its body into a neighbor's yard.

In response to news reports about the kitten's death, a Destin man named Jason Williams is organizing a rally on the Crestview Courthouse lawn during the hearing.

"Animals don't have a voice and we have to stand up for them," said Williams, who is a member of PETA. "I just want to make sure that the judicial system does its part and holds these people accountable."

According to the Crestview Police Department arrest report for the younger man, witnesses said that the father and son hit the kitten with a hammer and then put it in a yellow bag and threw it across the street into a neighbor's yard.

Witness accounts of the details varied. Some said that the kitten's owner had been dragging the animal down the street using jumper cables, however no jumper cables could be found. Another neighbor said that the Longs had "put down" the animal after it had been run over by a car. Still another said that it was rabid, "foaming at the mouth," and "trying to attack anyone who came near."

Crestview Animal Control took the kitten's body and were planning to run tests on it, as well as have it X-rayed.

The younger Long was charged Aug. 26. His father was charged two days later.

Williams said that some members of the "rally" may go into the courthouse during the hearing, but most will stay outside.

"We talked to the courthouse and they said we have the right to assemble as long as we stay on the sidewalk and the lawn," he said. "We're going to be outside, inside, where ever we can go."

Though he is a member of PETA, Williams said he is organizing the rally as a private citizen.

For more information about the rally, contact Williams at jaydestin@gmail.com or call him at (850) 424-6851.