Reward of Up to $5,500 Offered to Nab Perpetrator(s) in Cat-Torture Case

PETA Seeks Public’s Help in Finding Culprit(s) Who Inserted, Detonated Firecracker Inside a Cat

For Immediate Release:
July 13, 2018

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

On Monday, July 9, the residents of Pine Bridge Apartments in Mansfield made a horrifying discovery: Someone had inserted—and detonated—a firecracker inside the rectum of a 2-year-old stray tabby cat who lived in the area. They rushed her to Phillips Animal Hospital, where the cat, now named Katy, is currently receiving critical care.

Authorities are investigating but have yet to make any arrests in the case, prompting PETA to offer a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction on cruelty charges of the person(s) responsible for torturing this animal. The Humane Society of Richland County is offering its own $500 reward, bringing the current claimable reward total to $5,500, and additional amounts are being raised by concerned members of the community.

“There’s at least one dangerous person at large, and it’s urgent that anyone with information about this hideous crime speak up before someone else gets hurt,” says PETA Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “Cases like this are why PETA urges animal guardians to keep cats indoors, where they’ll be safe.”

According to leading mental-health professionals and law-enforcement agencies, perpetrators of violent acts against animals are often repeat offenders who pose a serious threat to all members of the community.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—notes that dogs and cats should never be allowed to roam unattended outdoors, where they may be taken, attacked by other animals, or abused by cruel people.

Anyone with information about this case should contact the Humane Society of Richland County at 419-774-4795.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.