Reward of Up to $5,000 Offered to Nab Perpetrator(s) in Cat-Killing Case

PETA Seeks Public’s Help in Finding Culprit(s) Who Impaled Cat on Lawn Ornament

For Immediate Release:
February 15, 2018

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

On the morning of February 10, a dead cat was discovered impaled on a deer-antler lawn decoration in the front yard of the Schlotzhauer Home, an assisted-living facility in Oquawka. The cat, who was named Mamma Cat and belonged to the facility’s director, was last seen alive in a common area around midnight the night before. When authorities arrived on the scene, they found footprints and paw prints in the snow leading toward a tree in the yard, which they believe indicates that Mamma Cat tried to escape and was chased before being forcibly—and fatally—impaled on the antler.

There are no surveillance cameras on the premises. Officers 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 or persons responsible for this cat’s death.

“There’s a 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 the community at large.

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 Henderson County Sheriff’s Office at 309-867-4291.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.