Reward offered for Melbourne cat decapitator

A $5000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of a person who decapitated a cat and left it on the front lawn of a Melbourne home on New Year's Day.

The cat, found outside a home on Bayview Ave, The Basin, was microchipped but police have been unable to identify the owner, The Age reports.

The reward is being offered by People for the Ethical of Animals (PETA), whose Australian campaign co-ordinator Claire Fryer has described the attackers as "total cowards".

"PETA is taking this very seriously. They are total cowards for doing this to a defenceless animal," she said.

RSPCA inspector manager Allie Jalbert also condemned the savage act.

"Aggravated cruelty to animals in Victoria carries a maximum penalty of up to $71,000 or two years' imprisonment under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986," Ms Jalbert said.

Police are also investigating the New Year's Eve stomping deaths of 22 rabbits in Gippsland.

Source: The Age

Author: Martin Zavan, Approving editor Martin Zavan