DALLAS _ A Dallas man faces a charge of animal cruelty after police say he drowned his cat when she sunk her claws into him during a bath.
Skyler Leviathan Sullivan, 25, was arrested last week on one count of cruelty to nonlivestock animals.
According to an arrest-warrant affidavit, Sullivan called 311 the night of Jan. 17 and told the dispatcher he needed help because his cat was in shock.
He said he was giving the cat a bath and she dug her claws into his tattoo, and then he lost his temper and "accidentally tried to drown it," the affidavit says. Sullivan blamed the incident on PTSD, reportedly saying, "I can't just keep using my PTSD as an excuse to hurt an animal."
When officers arrived at Sullivan's apartment in southeast Dallas, he told them that he wasn't a monster and attempted to revive the cat, the affidavit says.
Officers took Sullivan to Parkland Memorial Hospital for mental health treatment.
A veterinarian later determined that the cat "suffered non-accidental trauma" from the drowning, the affidavit says. The affidavit does not include the cat's name.
Sullivan was booked into the Dallas County jail April 25 and was later released after posting $5,000 bond. Under the conditions of his bond, he is not allowed to have any pets.
A posting on the Letgo app shows that Sullivan listed three bags and two cans of cat food for sale in recent weeks, as well as a blue litter box.
