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![\"MAGGIE](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4193690_web1_IMG_3242.jpeg\")
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMAGGIE MACINTOSH\/FREE PRESS
\nRejeana McIvor, 30, said she gave two cats \u2013 Nami, who had black fur, and a white-haired feline named Nero\u00a0\u2014 to a man accused of animal cruelty.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I was making a good decision. I wanted them to go to a good home, a loving home,\u201d she said as she recalled putting Nami and Nero up for adoption, along with detailed information about their individual personalities.<\/p>\n
Randy Jensen has been charged with three counts of killing or injuring an animal. His next court date is scheduled for June 11.<\/p>\n
Police allege Jensen, who was 24 when he was arrested in January 2025, lured and acquired cats via social media to torture them before discarding their remains.<\/p>\n
Nami, a black cat with a white patch on her chin, is one of his alleged victims. Nero, a white-furred feline, is believed to be missing, McIvor said.<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old choked back tears at an animal rights rally in a quiet residential neighbourhood in Winnipeg on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Project Artemis Animal Advocates Winnipeg, a grassroots group, organized the afternoon event.<\/p>\n
It drew about 50 people, as well as a handful of leashed cats and dogs, to a green space near Summit Road bridge, near CentrePoint Canada Way.<\/p>\n
Authorities confirmed three cat killings after residents in the area found dead animals under the bridge.<\/p>\n
On Saturday attendees shouted the accused\u2019s name and displayed posters bearing it and phrases including, \u201cNo excuse for animal abuse,\u201d and \u201cAll cats matter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Co-organizer Kristy Zamonsky said she\u2019s been bombarded with messages about allegations there are more victims.<\/p>\n
Zamonsky mobilized animal lovers to protest animal cruelty outside the Law Courts throughout a high-profile case involving a Winnipeg couple.<\/p>\n
Irene Lima and Chad Kabecz were recently sentenced to 12 years in prison for torturing and killing dozens of cats and other small animals online for a paying audience.<\/p>\n
Zamonsky started her advocacy group to provide comfort to people affected by that case and call for stricter animal rights laws.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u201cYou can\u2019t sleep at night when you think about these poor animals. They\u2019re innocent,\u201d said Crystal Lavallee, an active member of the group.<\/p>\n A self-described animal lover, she currently has four cats, two dogs and multiple foster pets.<\/p>\n Lavallee said she hopes Saturday\u2019s rally renews concerns about animal abuse and sparks political will to introduce tougher penalties for offenders.<\/p>\n Debbie Wall said Saturday that she\u2019s considering running for city council in the fall to make animal rights a election issue.<\/p>\n Winnipeg is in desperate need of a low-cost, high-volume spay and neuter clinic, Wall said.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t McIvor took Nami to the Winnipeg Humane Society for the procedure when the kitten was in her care. At the same time, Nami was tattooed and registered as her pet.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why McIvor said she was alerted about the death and later, how authorities identified a suspect.<\/p>\n On Saturday, she wore a sweater embroidered with a design of two cuddling cats in the likeness of Nami and Nero. McIvor said she only gave them up because of her concerns they weren\u2019t getting the care they needed due to her frequent travel and a roommate\u2019s allergies.<\/p>\n Since learning about the allegations against Jensen, she said she\u2019s suffered severe depression and frequent panic attacks. McIvor said she\u2019s also learned the importance of thoroughly vetting someone during the rehousing process and hopes this tragedy will encourage others to be extra cautious.<\/p>\n maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Maggie Macintosh Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie<\/a>.<\/p>\n Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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\nRejeana McIvor said she believed the man who responded to her Kijiji adoption ad in December 2024 and showed up to her house with a cat carrier would take good care of Nami, a black cat, and Nero.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Education reporter
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