WOODHAVEN, Mich. (WXYZ) — Woodhaven police are investigating a case of animal abandonment.
Signs are clearly posted outside the Woodhaven Trenton Animal Shelter. They warn people not to leave animals unattended, unless you want to be charged with animal abandonment or animal cruelty. But that did not stop someone from leaving a cat in a dark plastic box meant for donations of pet supplies.
Surveillance video shows a woman approach with a cat. Then, instead of ringing the doorbell and waiting, she decides to dump the cat in the plastic bin meant for donations of pet supplies.
The cat could have ended up in there for a dangerously long time, had someone not showed up with a donation.
“It gets very warm in there or very cold in there and air is an issue,” said Lora Shaller, Animal Control Officer at the Woodhaven Trenton Animal Shelter.
While what happened to him is no laughing matter, shelter workers have a sense of humor. They named the cat Jacque in the Box.
Schaller says people have abandoned pets outside the shelter about four times in the last two years. It leaves the shelter without the information it needs about animals they take in.
“The animals must come from our residents and we need to know about them. What is their temperament. Have they had vaccines? Why are they giving them up? It is against the law to abandon an animal,” said Schaller.
That is why there are surveillance cameras. They plan to hold people accountable to the law for putting animals at risk.
Police say they believe they know who the woman caught on camera abandoning this sweet cat is.
Jacque is expected to be available for adoption soon. If you are interested in giving him a forever home contact the shelter.
