Reward of Up to $5,000 Offered for Help Nabbing Cat Abuser

Culprit(s) Apparently Beat Two Cats With Heavy Object; PETA Joins St. Helens Police in Seeking Answers

For Immediate Release:
September 1, 2016

Contact:
Diane Hsiung 202-483-7382

On the evening of Thursday, August 25, St. Helens resident Shannon Hunsinger let her three cats outside—and when they returned on Saturday, two of them, Gojira and Titan, were bleeding from blunt-force injuries so severe that they had to be euthanized. Police believe that the cats were likely beaten with a golf club, baseball bat, or similar weapon and are waiting for necropsy results. So far, there are no leads in the case, prompting PETA to offer a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and cruelty-to-animals conviction of the perpetrator or perpetrators.

“These cats endured the terror and agony of a vicious beating and then struggled, broken and bloodied, to get back home to their family,” says PETA Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “PETA is urging anyone with information about this case to come forward immediately so that whoever is responsible can be held accountable for these crimes and stopped from hurting anyone else.”

Hunsinger’s third cat, Jackyl, returned home with no injuries, and Hunsinger says that she is never letting him outside again. PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—cautions all families that the best place for cats is indoors. In addition to the risk of being hurt by cruel people, cats who are allowed to roam outdoors may contract diseases, such as feline AIDS, or be hit by cars. All animal companions, including cats, should be escorted on a leash and a safe, secure harness when outdoors.

Anyone with information about this case should call the St. Helens Police Department dispatch at 503-397-1521.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.