$5,000 Reward Offered in Case of Eight Cats in Cages Abandoned Along U.S. 74

For Immediate Release:
May 1, 2026

Contact:
Sara Groves 202-483-7382

PETA is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction on cruelty-to-animals charges of the person(s) responsible for abandoning eight cats—including a mother cat and four kittens—in carriers in four separate incidents, all along U.S. Hwy 74, northeast of Columbus.

According to an April 24 video posted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the abandonments occurred on April 13, 15, 21, and 22 at on-ramps onto U.S. 74 East off N.C. 108 and N.C. 9. The mother cat and kittens were found in a black and gray carrier with the door zip-tied shut. A female cat who had recently given birth and two other adult cats were found in separate carriers, including one with a piece of tape reading “Tizzy.” The cats are currently being cared for at the Foothills Humane Society.

The person responsible for these abandonments has not been identified and may have other animals in their possession who are in danger. Anyone with information about these abandoned animals is encouraged to contact Polk County Animal Control Officer Patti Lovelace at 828-894-3001.

“As animal shelters turn cats away to keep ‘save rates’ high, some people are resorting to putting animals out on the streets—which is perhaps what’s happened here—but dumping cats along a busy highway is no solution, it’s just cruel,” says PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “PETA urges animal shelters to open their doors to any and every animal in need without barriers like fees or waitlists, and urges everyone to help reduce the homeless animals crisis by always spaying and neutering.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kitsfor people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.