Police are trying to learn the names of several teenagers and one of their mothers after the teens allegedly fed kittens to a pit bull at a northeast Dallas apartment complex Monday night.

A police report states that the juveniles took several kittens from a blue plastic box, threw them on the ground and kicked them to a pit bull, which tore them apart.

A woman who stopped with her family to check her mail at the Sienna Springs Apartments at 9455 Skillman St. in far northeast Dallas about 7:20 p.m. Monday said a group of children and teenagers had gathered around to watch the spectacle.

"It was very disgusting," said Elia Brown, 33, of Dallas. "There were 20 kids watching. Some of them, like the younger children, were scared, some were shocked, and some of the older ones were enjoying it."

Ms. Brown tried to intervene but said she was assaulted by the pit bull owner's mother, who allegedly told her to "mind her own business."

Some of the teenagers allegedly scooped up the kittens' bodies in a yellow bucket while others chased Ms. Brown and her family with sticks and bats.

"My two children were very afraid," she said Tuesday. "We couldn't stay there that night. ... We're going to have to move. We can't be around that."

Senior Cpl. Donna Hernandez said detectives from the department's northeast division are investigating the case but need to find the pit bull and the bodies of kittens and identify people who were at the scene.

Ms. Brown described the youths at the scene as being between 12 and 17 years old.

Managers at the apartment complex did not return calls seeking comment.

James Bias, president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas, said his organization was shocked to learn of the incident but more stunned that an adult may have permitted the cruelty.

"The idea that these animals had to be subjected to abuse is horrendous, but we've got an adult around watching and condoning their actions," he said.

Under state law, torturing or killing an animal in an act of cruelty is a state jail felony punishable by six months to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Mr. Bias said juveniles arrested for the severe acts of animal cruelty can be tried as adults.

"My hope would be that law enforcement working with prosecutors would take this as far as they can under state law," he said.