Pennsylvania Woman Sentenced to Six Months for Creating “Gothic Kittens”

Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 2:00pm
Cat with earrings

"Gothic Kitty" creator Holly Crawford has been sentenced to six months of house arrest for using a 14-gauge needle to pierce the ears, necks and tails of three kittens and then attempting to sell the maimed felines over the Internet. The 35-year-old Pennsylvania woman was further ordered to close her dog grooming business for at least two years. Despite opposition from concerned citizens, the judge ruled in favor of allowing Crawford to maintain guardianship over her other pets, including a dog, three cats and three snakes.

Crawford was initially charged after a tip led humane investigators and the state police to her home on December 17, 2008. Investigators found and seized three kittens wearing heavy piercing jewelry on their ears, necks and tails. At least one of the kittens had a thick elastic band wrapped around his tail to prevent blood flow, as a means of docking it.

Despite arguments that Crawford used sterile needles and surgical soap when piercing the kittens, a Luzerne County jury found her guilty of animal cruelty. Helping to seal the conviction was expert testimony from the ASPCA's leading forensics veterinarian, Dr. Melinda Merck, who testified that the kittens had been maimed and disfigured, had their hearing damaged, and could have died.

"I was very happy to work with the Luzerne County District Attorney's Office on this case of abuse," says Dr. Merck. "The idea of mutilating animals in such a way for profit is appalling, I am glad justice was served."

If you know of an animal who is being hurt, please report it. To report animal cruelty in New York City, call the ASPCA's tip line at (877) THE-ASPCA. Visit our Report Cruelty FAQ to learn how to report cruelty elsewhere.

Tags: 
Animal Cruelty

Comments

Sat, 10/20/2012 - 00:56 — bec (Visitor)
This is simply awful to do this to these poor babies, and then try to make a profit out of them; how cruel. The judge should have not allowed her to have any type of animals in her possession. What makes the judge believe she won't torture another again? Bad judgment.

Mon, 11/05/2012 - 03:10 — Kira Boyle (Visitor)
We have 15 cats of our (me, my mom, my mom's mom, my sister and my neice) own in my 1 bedroom apartment in Auburndale, Queens, NYC. We've pierced all of them in the same way. I don't see anything illegal or inhumane about it.

Thu, 11/08/2012 - 06:06 — Sidewinder7 (Visitor)
I'm sorry, I usually don't comment on other people's comments, but this time, I made an exception, because it seems you are out of "touch" with reality, and you're unaware of the potential suffering which your animals may be enduring, because of it. Forgive me, but as an avid cat lover, I can't help but be concerned. Here's why: Let me get this straight there's you, your mother, grandmother, your sister, and your niece, (that's 5 people), PLUS 15 cats, all of whom live among the confines of a one-bedroom apartment. My spouse and I, plus just 2 cats also dwell in a 1-bedroom apartment (in Denver, CO), which is just about 700 square feet, and we feel too crowded. If your apartment is typical in size to the "average" 1 bedroom apartment, with 5 people and 15 cats, I'm TRULY surprised you haven't received a citation for code violation from your local zoning and housing authority. (Most places across the country have restrictions as to how many people can dwell in a unit, according to its size. Plus, it's also amazing that the ASPCA hasn't "popped" in due to the complaints from unhappy neighbors about the stench of ammonia from the cat urine (15 cats can produce lots of cat pee). This sounds like a potential case of "animal hoarding". Before I begin to address the subject of "piercing", let's address the "basics". 1) Are each of the 15 cats spayed/neutered so they don't reproduce like rabbits? 2) Are they current on vaccinations? 3) Are they indoor or outdoor cats? OR, #1) Are those 15 cats the result of, what STARTED out as 3 or 4 cats, but somehow "POOF", there were all-of-a-sudden 15 cats (2 girl-kitties who get "knocked-up" about the same time, can drop 10 -12 little ones in no time at all). #2) None have seen the inside of a veterinarian's office since birth #3) They roam about the neighborhood, all "in-tact" (not spayed or neutered), free to mate whenever "nature" calls (it DOES, and they will). Which, in turn, adds to the ever-growing feral cat population, of unsocialized, unwanted animals, whose lives are no more than disease, predators, starvation and suffering. It's MY GUESS, you fit into the latter category. I could be mistaken. Perhaps you all live in a 1-bedroom loft of 2000 sq. feet or more, and the five of you keep on top of the many litter boxes, provide adequate food, all are "fixed" and you're one big happy family. If NOT, there's NO WAY IN HELL, 15 cats could live a life they deserve in comfort, with space, clean litter, adequate food, and socialization in the environment you just described. As far as piercing goes. EVERYTHING is wrong with it, without a CHOICE! We, as human beings, have the option to CHOOSE to pierce our ears, noses, or whatever. We make a conscious decision (at least that's the idea) to place flaming hot needles which poke holes, on impact, in designated places on our bodies. THOSE POOR kitties DON'T get to MAKE that choice. Rather, they're FORCED to endure the pain, INFLICTED on them, by the hands of FOOLISH, THOUGHTLESS, humans, who, in their SICK minds, see it as "family entertainment". Everything is VERY much wrong with it. If what I suspect is true, I HOPE someone calls the ASPCA on you, not to "punish" you or anyone under your roof, but if anything, to HELP YOU. 1)You may need psychological help, and I know for a fact, the ASPCA, usually doesn't fine or jail animal hoarders, Rather, they try to educate, and . Hoarders usually think they're doing the animals in their possession a "favor", or that they're "saving" them. They often don't see that those animals are in POOR shape. ) A serious HEALTH hazard to you and your family (and I'll bet your neighbors aren't too happy about it either) If you're doing nothing wrong, then there should be no problem if they "pop in" just to make sure.

Sun, 11/11/2012 - 02:01 — Colleen Foley (Visitor)
I agree compleatly with what you just said...i could never have said it better myself! Who in their right mind thinks it would be alright to ear or tail pirce a cat?they go threw unnessary pain and stress when this is done,and i own a cat myself.Mickey(my cat)is neutered as well because we all know how much a male gives help to the females he impregnates don't we!This person should be reported to the SPCA,and her cat's taken from her.

Sat, 11/17/2012 - 02:21 — dude (Visitor)
Shut up

Mon, 12/31/2012 - 03:07 — Zach M (Visitor)
Holy crap, give me a break, lady. We subject cats and dogs to forced surgeries, (the spaying and neutering you are worried about), we force them to live imprisoned in our homes. What difference does it make if we pierce their ears. I have had it done, and there is no "flaming hot" anything. Just an alcohol pad and a quick pinch, and thereafter a little daily cleaning with cleanser or soap. What a joke, we raise animals for food in horrendous conditions, slaughter them in their youth, and make sausage and burgers out of them, by the billion, and people are worried about some nut piercing their cats' ears. Ridiculous. If you really cared about animals so much, you would not have them as captive pets or eat them or any of their products.

Fri, 03/15/2013 - 04:11 — Ian (Visitor)
This is an illogical statement. Surgery and piercings are incomparable. If you really don't know the difference, perhaps you shouldn't own an animal. People who care about animals will ensure that they do not breed if said people do not have the resources to care for them. There is no reason to pierce an animal. It does nothing for the animal, and (as the above poster said) the animal has no choice in it. Also, bringing up vegetarian ideals is a non-sequitur. We're talking about domestic animals that are being pierced for human vanity, not farm animals being raised (whether poorly or properly) for human consumption. I live with cats. I do this because they add companionship that I couldn't get from a human to my life. If I'm humane, I sweeten it for them by making sure that they don't get overweight, they exercise, and they live well. How do you know, any better than anyone else, what kind of life my companions deserve?

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 08:18 — Diane (Visitor)
The difference is spaying an neutering are done under anesthetic and is for the animal's benefit. As for you being pierced, you had a choice, the cats didn't. Moron

Sun, 05/05/2013 - 06:58 — Frogging (Visitor)
Many people do not have a choice when they are pierced. HUMAN infants are pierced on a regular basis purely for the cosmetic satisfaction of their parents and nothing is done about it. HUMAN male babies are regularly circumcised WITH NO anesthetic, not for medical reasons, and many times not even for religious reasons, and people think it is normal. They cannot give their consent and the mutilations can never be undone. Dogs have their tails docked in the same fasion this woman was doing it to the cat and everyone thinks it is normal. This court's decision makes absolutely no sense in the context of our society.

Mon, 05/20/2013 - 07:38 — Nicole Draai (Visitor)
Other than the fact that circumcision is of no relevance to this article, allow me to enlighten you. Circumcision is usually done for religious reasons and who are any of us to judge. As for circumcision being done without anaesthetic: This happens in South Africa and is under gone by choice and because of individuals' cultural traditions. The whole circumcision for 'cosmetic reasons' comes from those undergoing circumcisions for unspecified reasons, unrelated to religion or culture, therefore, its is unfair to generally apply your statement to the entire world. You obviously aren't well read on the matter otherwise you would know that circumcision benefits both women and men in the long run. Being fully circumcised reduces a man's risk of contracting HIV by 60%. It also reduces women's risk of developing cervical cancer if their male partner is circumcised. My point is this: If you have an operation/procedure, it serves a purpose. As for aesthetic procedures, those are YOUR choice. When people have their pets undergo procedures, its to benefit the animal. You don't poke holes in and animal because you think it looks cool. Educate yourself fool!

Sat, 04/06/2013 - 04:53 — Solange (Visitor)
There is precedent: ancient Egyptians used to pierce the ears of their cats for Jewelry. I used to have a poster of a statue of an Egyptian cat with one pierced earring. It was very cool looking: sleek Abyssinian cat with very big ears and the one hoop earring. Always thought it was a cool look but never thought modern people did such things.

Sat, 04/20/2013 - 06:25 — James Jones (Visitor)
the egyptians also enslaved humans and used slave labor to build palaces for themselves to enjoy before and after life. then they stuffed their cats to bury with them. nice precedent.

Fri, 05/17/2013 - 07:20 — tony dickel (Visitor)
it seems likely that the post you have replied to is a "joke". 15 cats in a one bedroomed apartment? give me a break. this is a wind-up.

Fri, 11/23/2012 - 03:33 — I (Visitor)
If we meet someday (which I doubt, but would love for it to happen), I am going to gouge your eyes out and stitch your eyelids and lips shut, without anesthesizing you because, voila! I don't see anything illegal or inhumane about THAT!

Tue, 12/18/2012 - 02:38 — Gail (Visitor)
...you dont see anything inhumane about it...tell me how your cats react when you're holding them down to do it to them, especially for the 1st time. Do they sit there like they enjoy it or do they try to do anything they can to get away? How many of you does it take to keep one there to pierce it? Does the cat sit in a chair and patiently wait for you to pierce it's ears? How about, tonight after dark you go for a walk on your quiet streets and wait for someone to attack you and do something to you that scars you for life, will you enjoy it? The perpertrator doesn't see anything wrong with raping and punching you, does that make it ok to do to you? Do you think you'd trust this person next time they came near you?...no?....neither do your cats for what you put them through...

Thu, 01/10/2013 - 03:58 — blake (Visitor)
This is trolling of the highest caliber! Kudos to you, sir.

Wed, 02/20/2013 - 05:28 — kittysmithy (Visitor)
Finally a reader that sees the comment for what it was a very succesful attempt to troll.i.e. to annoy people with stupid untrue posts. Come on , did any of you believe the one bedroom story with generations of women and dozens of pierced cats. P-lease. However the first and super long reply was well written haha. Hopefully those replyers soon will be as knowledgeable about teh internet as they are about cat welfare. Also the replyer who mentioned animal welfare in general vs freakish pet overload attention has a point.. Fun discussion to read. Now i 'll go and walk my dog. Without a leesh. Miao. My cat can walk in and out as it pleases.

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 04:23 — G (Visitor)
You're a fucking idiot. Did your cats give you the permission to pierce their ears? Or did you just think you can do whatever the fuck you want to them? You think there is nothing inhumane about it? You're a moron.

Sun, 03/10/2013 - 08:53 — kathy (Visitor)
What exactly is the purpose of having an animal wear pierced jewelry????????. They don't get any pleasure out of it. Hopefully someone will report you. This is animal cruelty.

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 08:14 — Diane (Visitor)
Are you for real, if you are and not some rotten troll then the ASPCA should be investigating you for cruelty. I seriously cannot believe that you are genuine and no one has reported you. I'm pretty tempted to do it myself. But, the truth is I think you are just an attention seeker.

Sat, 04/06/2013 - 04:41 — Solange (Visitor)
If you have 15 cats and 5 people living in a one bedroom flat, some might say that you may have too many cats to be able to judge a cruelty issue clearly.

Sun, 11/25/2012 - 04:28 — Ula (Visitor)
How is this worst than de-clawing, tail or ear docking, or any of the number of things acceptable by veterinary standards all over the country?

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 04:39 — Guy Hamilton (Visitor)
De-clawing, tail or ear docking and the like are NOT "acceptable by veterinary standards" or legal standards in civilized countries. Just another example of ways in which the USA is behind much of the rest of the world.

Wed, 11/28/2012 - 02:24 — troy (Visitor)
I agree. This is wrong. I had a female cat, very loving and well behaved that I trusted to go outdoors and run the neighborhood with little or no supervision. It started innocently enough.... she came home one day with her bellybutton pierced. She tried to hide it from me at first, and when I finally did see it, I just convinced myself that all the other cats were doing it and it was just a phase.... It wasn't. She would come home with more and more piercings in wierder and wierder places, and, I suspect, even a tattoo or two that she keeps her fur long enough to where I can't see them.... And, speaking of her fur.... It used to be the most beautiful shade of blonde with tabby highlights, then she started hanging around with this woman in our neighborhood who is a little on the eccentric side( all the kids say she is a "witch" but I personally think she is just misunderstood.) Or, I did until my kitty came home one day and had dyed her coat jet black.... I begged and pleaded for her to change it back, even pulling out cliches like the whole "bad luck" bit and everything. It only drove her farther from me. I noticed more and more she was spending time alone in her favorite windowsill and she didn't seem to be fitting in with the other neighborhood cats like she used to.... I even saw her a few times hanging out with this Chihuahua from the next block (I'm not racist, but you people know what kind of things those "Southern" types get into) Last week, I even found a bag of catnip under the front porch.... I can't prove positive that it is hers, but I have seen the way she acts sometimes around a feather tied to the end of a string..... More and more she sits alone, she stays up all night and sleeps all day. I don't want her to end up like some of the others I've seen, posing for memes on the internet for any click happy voyeur to see.... If I knew then what I know now I never would have let that first piercing go so easily.....

Fri, 01/11/2013 - 05:13 — Kitty1234 (Visitor)
Its ur own fault -_- Anyway I live in the philipphines :) No peircings on meh cute cat And meh doggeh

Tue, 04/23/2013 - 07:32 — Porporl (Visitor)
Nah, in the philippines they grow the dogz n kittyz for food. Glorious Luvly fooooooddd! Kitty burgerz n hot chilly dawgs. Yum yum yum

Mon, 03/04/2013 - 05:20 — letmeeatcake (Visitor)
it is time for tough love...scare her straight by taking her to visit the animal shelter.

Fri, 03/15/2013 - 06:29 — j (Visitor)
you should probably convince the poor thing to go for some rehabilitation. some things can heal with time... unless it gets the dreaded cat AIDS.

Tue, 04/23/2013 - 07:34 — Porporl (Visitor)
Cats don't get AIDS, they get FIDS

Sat, 12/01/2012 - 03:55 — Holly D (Visitor)
As human being I chose to have my ears pierced and even I find that at the end of the day it feels great to take my earrings out and I dont wear especially large jewelry nor do I have ears that are now being forced out of their natural position as with the kitten pictured above. Nevermind the initial distress and lack of choice involved. As for the counter argument above re de-clawing, tail or ear docking - two wrongs don't make a right. What possible benefit is there for piercing pets other than the entertainment of the humans invloved? Please find another way to get your entertainment that dosent involve mutilating animals.

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 04:18 — Bryonie (Visitor)
I CHOSE to pierce my ears, I CHOSE to have my tattoos, I CHOSE to pierce my nose, because I have the ability to CHOOSE. Just because some stupid sicko decided her kittens would look cute with piercings, or trendy or whatever reason doesnt mean that she has the right to inflict her way of life on an innocent kitten. It has no voice it cannot say no, and I for one believe that the stupid idiot who allowed her to still keep her animals after what she did, should maybe have himself pierced, and stick an elastic band around his bits to dock him and see how long he lasts with the pain! Stupid Law, Stupid woman and I really hope that one day society can wake up and admit it was wrong with what we do and how we treat animals on the planet!!!

Fri, 01/11/2013 - 05:05 — MimingTheCatAnd... (Visitor)
Your Right I will nvr to do that to my dog and cat I HATE FKIN.ANIMAL CRUELTY THAT FKIN WOMAN IS A DICK XD :p

Sat, 12/15/2012 - 03:13 — Worse than this (Visitor)
Kittens and puppies are cute and people feel more emotional about the cuter animals they know and live with.This is a cruel practice - so is docking puppies tails. Far worse though, is the everyday, accepted treatment of animals we eat. Because we don't know them or live with them like puppies and kittens, we don't think about them much. I lived on my dads farm for 21 years and I have seen some terrible things that are done all the time. The calves get huge chunks taken out of their ears, tails and horns cut off - you ought to see the blood spurt out of those horns - like getting a limb cut off. I am not a vegetarian but the country has become so greedy for meat and we eat far too much of it. We eat so much meat, farmers can't grow enough cows, sheep and chickens for slaughter. If you love animals, start thinking about the ones you eat - they have feelings too but people just don't care about them because they never get up close to see how intelligent they are.

Mon, 03/04/2013 - 05:51 — letmeeatcake (Visitor)
my favourite animal is beef.

Fri, 03/15/2013 - 06:18 — MuttonBall (Visitor)
if beef was an animal x9 I would go and slaughter some mutton in some hot water and let the goats graze on the grass outside.

Tue, 12/25/2012 - 04:06 — edusilmFluite (Visitor)
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Mon, 12/31/2012 - 06:42 — teresa (Visitor)
THERE PETS NOT FASHION ACCESSORIES THERE MADE IN PERFECTION ALREADY NO NEED TO DECORATE THEM PEOPLE WHO DO SHOULD BE BANNED FROM HAVING PETS .

Fri, 01/11/2013 - 05:09 — MimingAndBibo (Visitor)
UR RIGHT SHE'S A FKIN DICK

Thu, 01/31/2013 - 01:12 — Jeff (Visitor)
Upside down again!!!! Here we are putting a woman in jail for doing to kittens what many women do to their young girl children. No one cares about that!! Well of course not. The human babies can be killed prior to birth so who cares if they are mutilated with peircings before and age where they can consent.

Tue, 04/23/2013 - 07:37 — Porporl (Visitor)
Epic comment. Put the atheistic critters in their place.

Thu, 01/31/2013 - 01:13 — josie k (Visitor)
It's one thing to pierce a cats ears with a small stud but to do surface piercings, or severe body modifications like putting extreme weight on the ears to stretch them or removing body parts like ears, tails, toes, paws...is freaking RETARDED!!! What is wrong with people?! What's next? People going to go and split their dogs penis' or do a body suspension??? I hope anyone that does this, one day, ends up passing away alone at home and that Mew Mew and Charlie get hungry.

Tue, 02/05/2013 - 04:02 — eric (Visitor)
and we only eat dogs, cats and rats in Vietnam!!!! lol

Tue, 02/19/2013 - 05:46 — Debby (Visitor)
So many caring people are all writing about caring for animals! Did you ever go to the ZOO?? It's all in the name of science but if you think about it, it's MAN with HIS power over the animal. Not an animal there can be "happy" out of his natural environment. So too spaying, neutering an animal-even tho it's of course cleaner & easier & medically accepted practice,this procedure must hurt, it is surgery and we do it for OUR convenience- so that the animal doesn't get pregnant and messy and too much to handle. Yes-it's more socially accepted but ALL these man-applied procedures upon animals are CRUEL. We've had hamsters,puppies, parakeets, cuckatoos-and with each we did our best to teach our children how to care and treat them well.Animals are not TOYS, but PET stores sell them as toys(did the store ever inquire whther these people buying the animal will care for it after the excitement is over? what WILL happen to that animal??) It's a thin line between knowing how to really care properly for an animal. Thank you all for being caring. WE ALSO HAVE TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR CHILDREN FROM OTHERS- ELIMINATE CRUELTY IN THE WORLD!!!

Fri, 03/15/2013 - 04:24 — Ian (Visitor)
No, we don't spay and neuter just to keep them from being "messy and too much to handle." We do it to prevent the spread of disease. Ever heard of parvo? Highly contagious. If you had a growing population of dogs, not all of which had homes, and some had parvo, you would likely need to deal with the image of dead dogs in your house and in the street. Is that really the logic of a humane pet owner?

Sat, 03/02/2013 - 05:12 — azzythehillbilly (Visitor)
The white man is very concerned about the health happiness and safety of their pet cats. Wow. I would have thought they are angels except when I see what they do in Iraq Afghanistan. and countless other places.

Mon, 03/04/2013 - 05:39 — letmeeatcake (Visitor)
ironic, we have to be harsh with you until you can at least be as civilized and well-behaved as our cats and dogs.

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 04:47 — Azzy (Visitor)
An arrogant response but no surprise. Exactly what is wrong with the west. Arrogant, dismissive, and prejudiced. Don't know bout your "cats and Dogs" but to be as "civilized" as you would we have to start bombing small and defenceless countries?

Mon, 04/29/2013 - 05:13 — Gringo (Visitor)
Actually there is a difference between the USA and your country........ We have electricity!!!!

Mon, 03/04/2013 - 05:30 — letmeeatcake (Visitor)
i was very supportive of my dog, who convinced me he was really a cat...emotionally...inside...so after a few cosmetic surgeries, and some hormone treatments...

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 04:43 — Asdo (Visitor)
I'm ready to bet any cat or dog would rather get an earring than having their bollocks cut off and livelihood dampened.

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