Lauderdale, Florida Firefighter Accused of Dumping Cat in Everglades Pleads Not Guilty

Lauderdale, FL -- The lawyer for a Fort Lauderdale firefighter accused of kidnapping his neighbors cat and dumping it in the Everglades entered a not guilty plea this week in court.

Prosecutors added a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge against Christopher Cortes, 32, and his girlfriend, Iris Zukerman, 31, both of Coconut Creek, in addition to the original theft charge, according to court records. Cortes told police he dumped the black cat, Mr. Kibbles, in the Everglades because it scratched his pick-up truck.

The cat's owners, Nancy Leonard and her 11-year-old daughter Maggie, noticed the cat was gone on Feb. 5 and presumed he was dead after learning he'd been snatched and dumped. But on Feb. 18, Mr. Kibbles, who was not wearing ID tags, returned home.

The Leonard family, who lives in the 5900 block of Northwest 47th Way, called it a miracle and are pushing for Cortes to be fired from his job and be given jail time.