BALDWIN PARK — A 2-year-old cat appeared traumatized but was expected to survive after being discovered with its head and paws wrapped in duct tape inside of a box left in the parking lot of an animal shelter, officials said.
The male domestic medium hair cat was discovered shortly before 9 a.m. in a lower-level parking lot at the Baldwin Park office of the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control, DACC spokeswoman Evelina Villa said. Officials have since named him “Amigo.”
A worker spotted the box abandoned in the parking lot and went to take a closer look, officials said.
“Inside the box, an animal control officer was shocked to find the cat gasping for air,” DACC officials said in a written statement.
Officials removed the tape from the animal’s head and paws, and the cat appeared to be doing well physically, Villa said.
“He’s a little bit overwhelmed,” she added. “He was fearful at first, but he’s opening up a little. We’re just happy he’s okay.”
An investigation was ongoing into who bound and left the animal in the parking lot, Villa said.
“I can’t imagine why someone would do this to a cat,” DACC Director Marcia Mayeda said. “Animal cruelty is heartbreaking, intolerable and usually a precursor to human violence.”
Because of the ordeal Amigo had been through, he was not to be adopted immediately, Villa explained.
He would first be rehabilitated and placed into a foster home, she said. “When we feel he’s ready, we’ll adopt him out.”
Anyone interested in adopting Amigo can send an email to animalinfo@animalcare.lacounty.gov to be notified when the cat is ready for permanent home.
Updates on Amigo’s recovery will be posted on the Baldwin Park DACC’s Facebook page, facebook.com/CountyofLosAngelesAnimalCare, or follow the shelter on Twitter, @LACoAnimalCare.

PHOTOS courtesy of the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control.