A cat was left uncaged on the front porch of a New Jersey animal shelter before being quickly abandoned, footage shows.
The incident happened on Monday, May 19, 2025, around 12:15 p.m., according to Josh Reyes, director of operations at Plainfield Area Humane Society (PAHS). Five minutes later, the cat was found by the shelter manager, who was checking for donations at the entrance.
“She was starting to move toward the busy street when we found her,” Reyes told Newsweek. “Thankfully, we secured her just in time.”
The video shows a person wearing a hood walk onto the porch, release the cat from a cage, and walk away. The cat looks back but stays still until shelter staff arrive.
Initial checks revealed the cat is young, friendly, and appears healthy. Reyes said the cat’s mammary glands are visible, suggesting she might be pregnant or recently gave birth.
Under New Jersey law, the cat will stay at PAHS for seven days before becoming available for adoption. “We are determined to find her a loving, permanent home,” Reyes said. “She deserves a life without abandonment.”
Animal shelters in 2025 are facing rising numbers of surrendered animals. Shelter Animals Count reported 1,944 animals surrendered by April 25, 2025—an 11 percent increase compared to last year.
Social media users expressed shock and sadness over the video. One wrote, “Shocked the cat didn’t run, thank gosh.” Another said, “So sad, broke my heart watching her watch the person walk away.”
No information about the person who abandoned the cat is currently available. Reyes and his team are asking the public for help in identifying the individual. Abandoning an animal is a criminal offense in New Jersey.
PAHS posted the footage on Facebook to raise awareness and gather leads. Community members have shown outrage and concern for the cat’s welfare.
“Our goal is to understand why this happened,” Reyes said. “A simple call to us could have changed everything for this cat. Shelters are overwhelmed, but we will always try to help—no animal should be left behind.”
Anyone with information about the person in the video is urged to contact the shelter directly.
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