COLLIER COUNTY, FL – Deputies in Collier County are searching for a suspect who threw a kitten from a car during heavy traffic, causing the eventual death of the cat.
According to the sheriff’s office, detectives are searching for the person who dropped a kitten from a moving vehicle in Golden Gate Estates this week.
“Our Animal Cruelty Investigations Alliance is actively investigating this incident and if our detectives determine a crime has been committed, we will find the person who did this and arrest them so they can be held accountable,” Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said.
The incident happened on Golden Gate Boulevard near 7th Street Northwest around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday.
“A witness told deputies she was driving west on Golden Gate Boulevard when she saw a black kitten dropped onto the road from the passenger side of a white SUV in front of her,” the agency said in a statement. “She told deputies it appeared the kitten was intentionally dropped. She said she was unable to take evasive action to avoid striking the kitten due to heavy morning rush-hour traffic. After striking the kitten, she said she circled around and returned to attempt to render aid to the kitten but the animal had succumbed to its injuries.”
She told detectives she waited approximately 30 minutes in the hope the driver of the white SUV would return and retrieve the kitten, but nobody came.
The suspect’s vehicle was described as a well-cared-for older model SUV that possibly had tinted windows. Collier County Domestic Animal Services collected the remains and scanned for a microchip with negative results.
Anyone with information should contact the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 239-252-9300. Or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-8477.