Mama Kitty is dead and her killer has been acquitted. Just what is going on with people and their animals in South Florida these days?

A tearful Michael Stueve, a heavy equipment operator with firearm experience, told the jury yesterday that he had shot his pet cat Mama Kitty as an act of love. According to The Miami Herald, Stueve told the jury that the cat had been acting anti-social lately and that her health was in decline. A veterinarian confirmed that the cat did have a heart and skin condition, however these conditions were treatable. Stueve admits that he was drinking before and after the shooting, but mostly after to help with the pain of losing his beloved pet.

The jury found Stueve not guilty in 30 minutes. He was being charged with animal cruelty. According to the Florida animal cruelty law, owners can kill their pets ''in a humane and proficient manner'' if they are suffering or near death and cannot be treated. If convicted, Stueve could have faced up to five years in prison.