BUFFALO, N.Y., Aug. 14 (UPI) -- A Buffalo, N.Y., man has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly scalding five kittens in a frying pan filled with hot cooking oil, authorities say.
"This is probably one of the worst cases of animal cruelty I've seen in my 26 years on the job," said Charles Loubert Sr., an animal control officer.
The kittens, about 7 weeks old, are expected to make a full recovery, Loubert said.
The unidentified man was at the home of an acquaintance who had invited him for a meal after seeing him at a bus stop, authorities said.
The man who invited him "was cooking a couple of pork chops and went into another room," Loubert said. The visitor suddenly put two kittens "in the frying pan with the hot oil and pork chops and began swishing them around."
After removing them he put three more kittens into the frying pan, Loubert said.
Police called to the apartment took the man to a local hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
