Reward for arrest in cats left in sealed buckets

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals announced a reward of $2,500 for information that leads to the arrest of the person who left a cat in a sealed bucket outside an animal shelter in Lower Manhattan.

Security video captured the man leaving the bucket with a terrified, malnourished black cat inside in the area of Hester Street and Centre Street on Dec. 13 at about 7:40 p.m.

The cat was taken to an ASPCA Animal Hospital where it continued to receive treatment a week after the incident.

A similar bucket with a cat trapped inside was found outside a shelter. The bucket was also placed near trash.

"These cats were discarded on a city curb as if they were garbage. Such callous disregard for a living creature is unconscionable and should not be tolerated in New York City, or anywhere,” says Howard Lawrence, vice president of ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement. “We ask anyone with knowledge of these incidents to please come forward and provide information to the NYPD.” Both cats were rescued by Animal Haven Shelter.

The suspect who was last seen heading northbound on Centre Street is described by police as Asian wearing a sweater, jeans and dark colored shoes.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.