GUILDERLAND — Police arrested a 61-year-old man after they received a call that he stabbed their family’s cat to death.
Guilderland Police arrested William J. Brannigan on March 25 at his 6116 Johnston Rd., home after he "stabbed the family cat with a pocket knife four times, causing the cat’s death," according to his arrest report.
He is being charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, which, under the 1999 "Buster’s Law," makes the crime a felony.
Buster’s Law was named after an 18-month-old tabby cat named Buster that was doused with kerosene and burned to death by Schenectady teenagers in 1997. It was signed by Governor George Pataki and passed by the majority of the state’s legislature in order to "further prevent egregious animal abuse against defenseless animals," according to the legislation.

Lieutenant Curtis Cox of the Guilderland Police told The Enterprise that he was unsure of whether or not this was the first Buster’s Law arrest in town, but confirmed that it is a felony charge.

According to the arrest report, Brannigan was arrested at his home two days after the incident occurred there.
Brannigan is described in the arrest report as a white 5 foot, 7 inch man, who is divorced and weighs 190 pounds and his occupation is listed as "disabled." The arresting officer, Thomas Funk, was not available for comment.

Brannigan was arraigned on the night of his arrest before Guilderland Town Judge John Bailey, the arrest report says. He was remanded to Albany County’s jail without bail pending a mental health evaluation, according to Guilderland Police.

Although Brannigan’s arrest report says he was scheduled to appear in town court on Thursday, March 29, he did not appear on the court calendar that evening.