The Danville Area Humane Society is investigating an unusual cruelty case — someone wrapped a small, domesticated white rat in tape and left it on North Avenue on Saturday.
Danville police officers originally responded to a call about an animal wrapped in masking tape and dumped by the side of the road. They started unwrapping the animal, discovered it was a rat and called shelter employees to the scene.
After carefully removing the tape around its body to avoid pulling out any more hair than necessary, it was discovered the rat’s rear legs had another layer of tape tightly binding them.
Once freed, it could be seen that the rat’s stomach, legs and toes had been injured.
The shelter is offering a reward of up to $500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for rat’s injuries and abuse.
“Make no mistake; if someone will do this to a rat, they will do it to a dog, cat or other animal,” said Lynn Shelton, president of the shelter’s board of directors. “We take any animal abuse seriously.”
Paulette Dean, executive director of the shelter, said the National School Safety Council, the U.S. Department of Education, the American Psychological Association and the National Crime Prevention Council all agree that animal cruelty is a warning sign for at-risk youth, and that the cycle of violence often begins with abuse of small animals.
Dean said all money used for the shelter’s rewards are donated specifically for that purpose, Dean said.
“No taxpayer funds are used to support the reward program,” Dean said.
The rat is friendly and allows itself to be pickup up and held without struggling. Dean said shelter employees have already become attached to the creature, and it may become a permanent shelter pet.
Thibodeau reports for the Danville Register & Bee.
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