(Thechieftainspear) – A Mission Viejo man is facing animal cruelty charges after being caught on surveillance video discarding an injured cat into a dumpster and driving away, authorities announced Monday.
Joseph Harrison Parker, 58, allegedly placed the wounded feline inside a garbage bag before throwing it into a dumpster earlier this month near a shopping center on Cabot Road in Laguna Hills.
The cat remained trapped for approximately 15 hours before being rescued, just moments before the scheduled trash pickup. According to Mission Viejo Animal Services, the female cat suffered severe injuries, including a fractured jaw, eye trauma, and a concussion.
Surveillance footage of the disturbing act quickly circulated on social media, leading to Parker’s identification. Orange County Sheriff’s deputies arrested him last week.
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The cat’s owner later came forward and identified Parker as her roommate. Initially called “Willow” by veterinary staff, the feline’s real name was revealed to be BooBoo.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer condemned the act, stating, “Harming a defenseless animal is an act of cruelty that will not be tolerated. We will aggressively prosecute those who engage in such violence.”
Parker faces a felony charge of animal cruelty and a misdemeanor count of abandoning a pet. He appeared in court last Friday, pleading not guilty.
Despite objections from prosecutors, Parker was released on $2,000 bail, an amount the District Attorney’s Office deemed insufficient given the severity of the crime. If convicted, he could serve up to three years in state prison.
Meanwhile, BooBoo underwent surgery to mend her broken jaw and is slowly recovering .
