WATCH: A Calgary man accused of killing two kittens is defending his actions.75-year-old Ottavio Marchesan says he loves animals but hates cats. Nancy Hixt reports.
WARNING: This story contains graphic content. Discretion is advised.
CALGARY – A 75-year-old Calgary man who’s been charged with animal cruelty after strangling three kittens and throwing them in the garbage says he loves most animals.
“I love the animals: birds, dogs…but cats, I hate,” Ottavio Pio Marchesan told Global News on Tuesday.
“The kittens, I killed two…the other one I grabbed, and put it in the garbage alive.”
Police say two kittens were found dead, but one was able to escape, after a utility worker came upon the incident and tried to intervene. The animals were found on Monday at about 9:45 a.m. in the 2800 block of 14 Avenue S.E.
READ MORE: Man charged after allegedly strangling kittens, throwing them in garbage
Watch below: Raw interview of Global’s Nancy Hixt interviewing Ottavio Marchesan, charged with two counts of animal cruelty. Warning: Graphic Content
Marchesan, who said he grew up on a farm in Italy and moved to Canada in 1961, said the mother cat had killed a bird on his property.
Police also found a number of rabbits living in what investigators called “deplorable conditions” in cages in the backyard of the suspect’s home. Many have since been turned over to the Calgary Humane Society.
Marchesan denied the rabbits were malnourished, and said he fed them regularly.
“I worked for seven years to have some bunnies,” he said, and added he raised them “not to eat them all, but I like to have rabbit stew.”
Marchesan said by taking away the rabbits, the city has taken away his life.
“I’m criminal…I kill cat…big deal…I never killed before.”
He is scheduled to appear in court on August 20.
The Calgary Humane Society is continuing to investigate and may lay additional charges.
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