Reba’s Law to be tested by prosecution of man who threw girlfriend’s kitten at a wall 

A Henderson man who threw his girlfriend’s three month-old kitten against a wall and then into a parking lot and sent the video to her in an alleged attempt to intimidate her, must stay away from his girlfriend, guns, and “any animals, whatsoever” as his case proceeds, Henderson Justice of the Peace Barbara Schifalacqua ordered Thursday. 

“The court has real concern because of not only the threats made but the video sent in this matter,” Schifalacqua said to Angel Ventura Ayala, who appeared for the hearing via Zoom. Ayala posted bail shortly after his arrest Dec. 16. 

Court records indicate Ayala is charged with one felony count of domestic violence abuse with a deadly weapon and two felony counts of animal abuse with the intent to threaten or terrorize an individual. Reba’s Law, passed last year by the Nevada Legislature, increases the penalty for animal abuse that is intended to threaten or intimidate. 

 An incident report filed by Henderson Police says Ayala, 27, was mad at his girlfriend, 19 year-old Sienna Aldabbagh, and sent her a video of himself throwing the cat. 

Ayala, according to the incident report, can be heard on the video saying “‘you got this, right’ as he is picking up the cat as though he was making sure that the subject was recording. He then says ‘I’ll throw your bitch ass cat’… As Angel walked down the breezeway, he violently threw Suki (the kitten) against the wall toward the parking lot. Angel then picked up the cat a second time and threw it into the parking lot. The cat could be heard crying during the second throw.”

The report states that while Aldabbagh was searching for the kitten near Ayala’s apartment, “Angel pulled a gun from his waistband, racked a round and threatened her with it.” 

The video on social media quickly drew the attention of animal advocates. 

“The links between domestic violence and animal abuse are well-documented and apparent in this case,” Gina Greisen of Nevada Voters for Animals, one of several activists who notified police of the allegation, said Thursday. “We’re having a rash of animal cruelty cases, and we are among the worst states in the nation for domestic violence.”  

The cat, which was treated by a veterinarian for minor injuries, was turned over to Henderson Animal Shelter, according to the police report. It’s unknown whether the cat has been retrieved from the shelter. 

Ayala’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11. His attorney had no comment on the case.

The case is among the first to test Reba’s Law, passed by lawmakers last year after homeless individuals discovered a English bulldog abandoned in a sealed plastic tote in the summer heat behind a commercial building in 2024. The dog died days later. 

Following the arrest of suspects in Reba’s death, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said he’d been besieged by citizens calling for stiffer penalties for animal abuse. However, the Current’s review of cases prosecuted by Wolfson revealed the DA rarely sought to impose prison time for offenders. 

Days after Gov. Joe Lombardo signed Reba’s Law, Wolfson cut a plea deal with one of the defendants charged in Reba’s case. 

“O.K. Wolfson, you asked for a new law. Now you’ve got it. What are you going to do with it?” Greisen asked rhetorically. 

The new law increases willful animal abuse or neglect that results in death from a category D felony, punishable by up to four years in prison, to a category B felony, punishable by a minimum of one year and up to six years in prison. It also renders animal abuse or neglect that is intended to threaten, intimidate, or terrorize an individual as a category B felony, also punishable by up to six years behind bars. 

“Is this going to be another case of our weak and ineffective judicial system telling the perpetrator to ‘never do this again,’ receive some sort of probation and/or pay an insignificant fine?” Boulder City resident Fred Voltz said via email of the case involving the cat. “These cases will continue to occur unless the same significant penalties for assault and battery apply to any animal as it would to any human adult or child.”

Animal activists say they are also frustrated by what they call a lack of awareness by law enforcement regarding the provisions of Reba’s Law. 

At a community gathering Tuesday in Summerlin, organized by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police to educate the public about the provisions of Reba’s Law, Det. Nancy Leyva, one of two detectives assigned to animal abuse and neglect cases, stated the law increased the penalty for abuse or neglect resulting in death to 10 years, and said an individual who fails to take action to prevent the malicious act is subject to the same penalty. 

However, both provisions – the 10 year maximum penalty and the effort to hold accountable an individual who fails to act – were removed from the bill following concerns voiced by the American Civil Liberties Union and others. 

Leyva referred the Current to Metro’s public information office, which did not respond.