$5,000 Reward Offered for Help Nabbing Cat Abuser

PETA Offers Help in Seeking Person(s) Who Left Cat Bloodied and Bruised, Urges Everyone to Keep Animals Indoors

For Immediate Release:
April 7, 2016

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

On March 24, a cat named Cloud Paws was found in the 1400 block of Poquoson Avenue after reportedly having been attacked so violently that his tail lay limp, the bones were dislocated from his spine, and the nerves that control his bowels and bladder were damaged to such an extent that he can no longer urinate without a catheter. A veterinarian speculated that the wounds were from “somebody holding him by the tail and kicking him like a football.” Law-enforcement officials have yet to make any arrests in connection with this case, prompting PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—to offer a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the crime.

The group is also issuing an urgent warning for all families to keep companion cats indoors.

“Someone out there viciously attacked this cat, leaving him in agonizing critical condition,” says PETA Senior Director Colleen O’Brien. “For all animals’ safety, PETA is urging families to keep cats indoors and asking anyone with information about this attacker to come forward immediately.”

In addition to being hurt by cruel people, cats who roam outdoors risk contracting communicable diseases, being snatched up by “bunchers”—people who steal dogs and cats and sell them for use in experiments—or getting lost, injured, or hit by cars.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call Newport News Animal Services at 757-595-7387.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.