A second animal rights organization has now put money behind an effort to identify and bring to justice the perpetrator of a serious incident of animal cruelty. Together, they add another $10,000 to the $7,500-plus raised privately to do so.
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.
Shortly thereafter, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) issued the following:
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.
PETA was joined on Monday by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the nation’s preeminent legal advocacy organization for animals, which is offering its own $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for torturing a long-haired tabby cat named “Katy P.” Officials reported that the 2-4-year-old cat was found severely injured after an unknown assailant inserted and detonated a firework in Katy P’s rectum on July 8, 2018.
Katy P lived in the Pinebridge apartment complex, located at 135 E. Cook Road in Mansfield, Ohio. It was there that she was discovered on July 9, 2018 with severe injuries and was rushed to Philips Animal Hospital for surgery. Katy P is slowly but steadily healing, and charming her team of caretakers with her sweet personality.
In Ohio, it is a fifth-degree felony to knowingly cause serious physical harm to a companion animal. The maximum penalty is up to a year imprisonment and a $2,500 fine.
“Numerous studies have shown that people who commit animal cruelty crimes regularly escalate to violence against humans,” said Animal Legal Defense Fund Executive Director Stephen Wells. “We urge anyone with information to come forward, both to get justice for Katy P and to protect the Richland community as a whole.”
An update on the cat’s condition from the Humane Society of Richland County can be found below.
Source: Press releases
