SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Two South Portland, Maine, girls were charged with animal cruelty for allegedly putting a kitten in a microwave oven, police said.
The appearance of the incident on the Internet, in a 10-second Twitter post, led to an investigation by police and summonses given Monday to the unidentified 15-year-old girls.
"We got all kinds of tips. Anonymous tips on our phone line, tips on out Facebook [page]," South Portland police Lt. Frank Clark said. "A lot of people were pretty upset by this."
In the video, the 8-week-old cat is placed on the turntable of the microwave oven, the door is closed and the interior lights go on to indicate the oven is in use. The cat was removed, unharmed, several seconds later, the Portland Press Herald reported Tuesday.
Clark said the cat was given to a local animal shelter, and the case will be referred to Cumberland County prosecutors.
