Justice for Sage the Cat: Hold Animal Abusers Fully Accountable in Massachusetts

The Issue
Sage is a one-year-old cat who should have been safe in a loving home. Instead, he endured horrific abuse. Surveillance footage reviewed by MSPCA Law Enforcement reportedly shows a man — identified as Jaydan Depina of Cambridge — throwing Sage from an upper floor and slamming him to the ground by his tail.

Sage suffered fractured ribs, a broken tail, and severe internal injuries. Veterinarians also discovered signs of prior abuse, including older rib and toe fractures. Despite everything, Sage is recovering at MSPCA-Angell and is once again showing trust and affection — proof of his resilience and the power of care.

But resilience is not justice.

Depina has been charged with two counts of animal cruelty. Yet too often in Massachusetts, cases like this result in probation, suspended sentences, or minimal penalties. Because animals are still considered “property” under many laws, true accountability is rare.

What We’re Demanding
We call on the Middlesex County District Attorney and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to:

• Pursue the maximum penalty under the law in this case.
• Enforce animal cruelty laws with greater consistency and severity across the state.
• Send a clear and strong message: animal abuse will never be tolerated — not in Cambridge, not anywhere in Massachusetts.

Sage deserves justice. And every animal still at risk deserves protection backed by real consequences for abusers.

Add your name today to demand strong prosecution and meaningful accountability in Sage’s case. Together, we can make Massachusetts safer and more compassionate for animals.

Decision Makers:

• Middlesex County District Attorney
• Massachusetts State Officials