PETA offers $5K reward to find Waukegan cat killer

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) -- After a dead cat was found hanging from a tree in north suburban Waukegan last month, the reward for information that leads police to the killer is growing.

On Friday, the group PETA offered a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

In December, Waukegan police said they are investigating the case as a possible act of animal cruelty. The dead cat was found hanging from a tree with a cord wrapped around its neck in late December.

"It just took my breath away, literally," said Mary Kaye Larsen, Fat Cat Rescue. "How could you wrap a rope or a nylon strap around this kitten, hoist her up there, knowing that children are going to see that?"

Police said it's unclear whether the cat was dead before it was hanged. Regardless, the person responsible could face animal cruelty charges.

"Our investigations division has taken over the case so that we can get to the bottom of this and find out exactly what is going on and find out if there's any ulterior motive or ulterior meanings to this," said Cmdr. Joe Florip, Waukegan Police Dept.

"Help us find whoever did this. For whatever reason they did it, they need help. If you can hurt an animal, you can simply hurt a person," Larsen said.

Larsen says there have been other recent cases of dogs and other animals being harmed in the area, but police say this particular incident - at this time - appears isolated.