Man caught on video discarding injured cat into a dumpster in Orange County
An animal services group is asking the public for help in identifying a man who was caught on camera dumping an injured cat into a dumpster in Orange County.
Mission Viejo Animal Services posted surveillance footage of the man to their social media page; in the post’s caption, they state that the incident occurred on Monday around 7:20 p.m. near the 25000 block of Cabot Road in Laguna Hills.
Officials with the vet’s office received a report about the injured cat being located inside a dumpster behind a shopping center near Cabot and La Paz Road the next day.
“The cat was discovered 15 hours [after it was dumped] and just minutes before the dumpster was scheduled for collection,” Animal Services stated. “The cat, suffering from obvious trauma, was immediately transported to a local animal hospital for evaluation and treatment.”
An investigator with Orange County Animal Control began looking into the incident and was able to ascertain the footage that was later posted by the animal services group. In it, a man is seen driving an SUV behind the businesses and parking near the dumpster before exiting the vehicle, retrieving a bag and dumping the contents of it — the cat — into the dumpster.
The injured cat, named Willow by MVAS staff, was seen in the video ambling away from the man before he drove away.
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A man is seen driving an SUV behind the businesses and parking near the dumpster before exiting the vehicle, retrieving a bag and dumping the contents of it — the cat — into the dumpster. (Credit: Mission Viejo Animal Services) -
A man is seen driving an SUV behind the businesses and parking near the dumpster before exiting the vehicle, retrieving a bag and dumping the contents of it — the cat — into the dumpster. (Credit: Mission Viejo Animal Services) -
A man is seen driving an SUV behind the businesses and parking near the dumpster before exiting the vehicle, retrieving a bag and dumping the contents of it — the cat — into the dumpster. (Credit: Mission Viejo Animal Services) -
A man is seen driving an SUV behind the businesses and parking near the dumpster before exiting the vehicle, retrieving a bag and dumping the contents of it — the cat — into the dumpster. (Credit: Mission Viejo Animal Services)
Willow is said to be recovering and is showing “immense affection” to the vets caring for her, and the Dedicated Animal Welfare Group is ensuring she received the necessary medical care.
In the wake of what MVAS calls “a senseless act of abandonment,” veterinarians are now turning to the public for help in identifying either the man in the video or the cat’s original owner.
“The suspect’s vehicle appears to be a light blue or gray 2022-2024 Volkswagen Tiguan or a similar small SUV,” the MVAS post reads.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Mission Viejo Animal Services by calling 949-470-3045.
To support Willow’s road to recovery, visit www.dawg.org