When a cat’s body was found in some bushes last month, the Great Bend Police Department logged it as a cruelty to animals case with no leads.
On Monday, the Humane Society of the United States upped the ante by offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the decapitation of a cat in Great Bend.
The cat’s body was found Saturday, Oct. 26, is some bushes in the 1400 block of 12th St.
Seth Orbaugh, animal control officer at the Golden Belt Humane Society, said the light orange male cat was found with its head and front right leg cut off. The first thing he looked for was signs of an animal attack. But all of the evidence pointed to deliberate human action.
“The cuts were very clean,” he said.
Heather Acheson, director of the Golden Belt Humane Society, is asking for help from the public.
Midge Grinstead, the state director of Humane Society of the US, said she viewed photos of the cat, sent to her by Orbaugh. It appeared to her that the cat was likely not a stray, as it was clean and well groomed.
Orebaugh agreed, saying it appeared to have been “a very healthy cat.”
“While it is unknown what instrument was used, the cuts made were clean, indicating they were made with the intent to maim and kill,” Grinstead said.  “Cuts from a lawn mower or the fan belt of a car would have been ragged.”  
It also appeared the body was dumped, not killed at that location Orebaugh said.
Chances of solving such a case are slim, unless someone comes forward with information. But Grinstead said a board member of the Humane Society of the United States recently donated funds to double the standard $2,500 reward in an effort to target specific types of animal cruelty. When she heard about the Great Bend case, she inquired with the Golden Belt Humane Society and local law enforcement to determine if offering the reward would help.
“We are hopeful someone will call in with information,” she said.  “Animal cruelty is such an indicator of other violence, and is so often used to control others, especially in a domestic violence situation.
“People who perpetrate crimes against animals rarely stop there,” she said. “I hope this reward helps law enforcement identify and convict someone for this crime.”
The reward may also deter future cases of animals, she said.
Anyone with information about this crime may call the GBPD, 793-4120. Anonymous tips may be left by calling Crime Stoppers, 792-1300, which offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information.