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Cruelty charges have been dropped against three now-former employees at Jayco RV in Elkhart County, Indiana, who put two cats in a trash compactor to kill them. Demand they be refiled!
 

In February 2025, the three employees were alleged to have placed the two cats into microwave boxes and then put them in a trash compactor because they wanted them removed from the property, and they misleadingly claimed that efforts to rehome them were unsuccessful. This was crazy talk, as the local shelter was not full and said that it would have accepted the cats.

In June, they were each charged with two counts of felony cruelty. Unfortunately, the charges were dropped, in part due to a clerical error in the probable cause affidavit.

There was hope they would be refiled after further investigation, but on June 25, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney announced no criminal charges would be filed. The justification was that the cats were “feral” and damaging the property, and there was seemingly “no intent” to cause the cats to suffer.

Under Indiana law, people can be exempted from facing cruelty charges for killing a vertebrate animal who is causing property damage, among other exceptions.

According to a statement, the prosecuting attorney “determined it would be unreasonable to apply the law regarding abuse to such circumstances where the animal's death is brought about by actions that do not prolong the suffering of such an animal.”

We are calling for the refiling of two counts of felony animal cruelty per perpetrator under Indiana's law prohibiting the torture or mutilation of vertebrate animals. We demand the maximum sentence of 2.5 years per count, totaling up to 5 years in prison for each of the three men. In addition to prison time, we urge the court to impose a permanent ban on animal contact, as well as mandatory psychological evaluations and treatment.

Anyone who can put living beings into a trash compactor poses a danger to both animals and the community at large. This case must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law to send a clear message: animal cruelty is serious, intentional, and must be punished accordingly.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Cruel Men Who Crushed Living Cats in Compactor Must Be Prosecuted to the Fullest Extent

I am writing to express my extreme disappointment that your office will not be refiling cruelty charges against the now-former employees at Jayco RV who killed cats by putting them in a trash compactor.
 
It’s difficult to understand how their actions would not be considered an egregious act of cruelty that caused terror and suffering to the cats who were trapped in the dark, surrounded by loud noise, realizing they were being crushed to death with no escape.
 
It’s equally horrifying that your office is using your state’s antiquated trapping laws as a partial justification, arguing that they died faster than trapped wild animals would, so this isn’t considered cruelty. No animal deserves to be killed in such a sadistic manner.
 
Allowing excuses by standing behind the argument that suffering wasn’t intentional sends a dangerous message to would-be abusers that they can escape consequences for the harm they cause.

I am calling for the refiling of two counts of felony animal cruelty per perpetrator under Indiana’s law prohibiting the torture or mutilation of vertebrate animals. I expect the maximum sentence of 2.5 years per count, totaling up to 5 years in prison for each of the three men. In addition to prison time, the court must impose a permanent ban on animal contact, as well as mandatory psychological evaluations and treatment. Anyone who can put living beings into a trash compactor poses a danger to both animals and the community. This case must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law to send a clear message: animal cruelty is serious, intentional, and must be punished accordingly.
 
Your community has made it clear that it wants these individuals held accountable. There is simply no rationalization for allowing this cruel act to go unpunished.
 
I ask that you reverse your decision, refile charges, and seek full prosecution. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.