No charges after dog and kitten plunged from same 43rd floor balcony three days apart

Chicago Police have opted not to charge anyone regarding the deaths of a dog and a kitten which plunged 43 floors under unusual circumstances. Residents of the building at 360 E. South Water St., such as Gwen Sylvain, don’t see how it is possible for two animals to plunge off the same balcony in three days.

“It’s tragic. I am heartbroken. I have cried my heart out about that, because I saw that dog,” said Ms Sylvain, who has lived in the building since it opened six years ago, and considers herself an unofficial “pet mommy” to many of the animals who live in the high rise. Claire said her boyfriend was walking their dog, when he saw the falling dog hit the pavement in front of the building, landing on its side and dying instantly.



“He can’t get the vision out of his head, or the sound,” she said. “He’s pretty torn up about it. I’ve never really seen him like this before.” Police arrived equally sceptical, but decided after several hours of questioning that both plunges were tragic accidents. The first to plunge was a two-month-old kitten named, Oak on, Sunday belonging to the tenant, a 26-year-old musician named Ryan. The second was a Rottweiler-Shar Pei mix named Duke, which belonged to Ryan’s mother, stepfather, and sister; who are in town to help him move.

The balcony door was open and piled full of boxes and furniture on Wednesday morning as they cleaned prior to moving. Ryan said he was in a friend’s apartment elsewhere in the building, and said he was told no one was watching the balcony. Ryan said his stepfather came to the friend’s apartment to ask if they had come for Duke. Only then did they look over the edge of the balcony, where he said he saw police and Streets and Sanitation personnel huddled around the dog. Ryan said he is so heartsick that he hasn’t eaten since the kitten died on Sunday.

With audio news report.