Dead cat bound with duct tape found in river

MANITOWOC - UPDATE: Police have made an arrest in the case. Click here for details.

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Two men were netting for fish here on the Manitowoc River on Sunday. What they caught instead was unexpected.

"It was a trash bag, and inside there was a cat and unfortunately, the cat's paws were tied with some duct tape and there was duct tape over the head of the cat as well,” said Lt. Paul Schermetzler of the Manitowoc Police Dept.

Manitowoc police say the cat didn't have identification tags.

"We have taken the animal to a veterinary hospital to determine how and when the cat died,” said Schermetzler.

Schermetzler believes the cat was left there on Sunday. But his department has no leads in what it's calling a case of animal cruelty.

"In this situation, it's definitely a crime,” said Schermetzler.

The Lakeshore Humane Society says it's doing the best it can to help the police.

"We are taking donations here and facilitating that in case we can find information, like a reward,” said Valorie Gingler, a supervisor at the humane society.

The humane society says it hopes others will take advantage of its open-admission animal surrender program if they have an unwanted pet.

"I was shocked and appalled that somebody had the audacity to do that to an animal like that when there are so many good alternatives options for re-homing and housing animals,” said Gingler.

That way, cats that may not be wanted in one home, can find a place where they will be loved.

If you have information about who may have killed the cat, you're asked to call Manitowoc Crimestoppers at 920-683-4466.