VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) — The Valdosta Veterinary Associates has a message for the community after an employee was bitten by an animal abandoned on their property: “this is not okay.”

The organization says on Thursday morning (Oct. 29) around 6 a.m., someone pulled up to the animal hospital and abandoned a cat in the bushes outside. The cat did not wander onto the property, but was intentionally left there in a carrier that had been taped shut and hidden in the landscaping.

“What happened next is exactly why this type of behavior is unacceptable,” the Facebook post about the incident says.

Officials with the Valdosta Veterinary Associates say when their staff found the carrier, they had no way of knowing what was inside or if the animal was injured or not. As they tried to open the carrier, the cat lunged out and bit an employee, latching onto them.

Valdosta Veterinary Associates says this is a serious employee safety incident because they have no medical history for the animal, no vaccination records, and no way of knowing if the cat potentially has rabies.

“One of our employees came to work today to care for animals and is now facing a potential rabies exposure because someone in our community chose to abandon an unknown animal rather than simply ask for help,” the post says.

Officials go on to emphasize that Valdosta Veterinary Associates is a 24/7 emergency animal hospital, meaning the person who dropped the animal off could’ve simply rung the doorbell and asked for help. Instead, they left the cat in the bushes, putting both employees and the animal at risk.

“We want to make it clear that this incident was captured on our surveillance cameras. We are asking the individual responsible to please come forward and contact our hospital immediately. If you have any information regarding this cat’s medical history, previous ownership, or rabies vaccination status, it is critically important that you provide that information to our team,” the post states.

“Abandoning an animal on someone else’s property is NOT an acceptable solution. Being a veterinary hospital does not mean our staff should be expected to put themselves in danger because someone else refuses to take responsibility.

Our team works around the clock, including nights, weekends, and holidays, to care for the animals of this community. They deserve to come to work in an environment where their safety is respected.

To the individual responsible: You had the opportunity to knock on our door, ring our bell, or speak to a staff member. You chose not to. That decision has now had real consequences for someone who was simply trying to help. We are asking you to do the responsible thing now and come forward with any information you have about this animal.

To our community: Please understand that if you find an animal in need, the answer is NEVER to secretly leave it outside a veterinary hospital. Contact us, animal control, or the appropriate rescue organization so the situation can be handled safely and responsibly.

We will always advocate for animals in need, but we will advocate just as fiercely for the people who dedicate their lives to caring for them.

Compassion for animals should NEVER come at the expense of the safety of the people trying to save them."

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