BATON ROUGE - The Humane Society of Louisiana is offering a reward for information that can identify a man in connection with the death of a cat found hanging from the side of a building in Baton Rouge. 

Witnesses tell WBRZ they spotted the cat hanging from the side of a shopping center in the 1900 block of Staring Lane Tuesday evening. Baton Rouge Police say the call came in at 5:45 p.m.

Robert Daniels was at work Tuesday when he saw the commotion.

"It was hanging from this thing off the side of the building," he said. "By it's neck."

Baton Rouge Animal Control is currently investigating the case.

Video recordings from a nearby business captured the image of a man carrying the cat on the roof of the shopping center prior to it being hanged. He appears to be dragging something attached to a leash or chain. A necropsy performed at the Diagnostic Lab at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine determined the cat was alive prior to its asphyxiation. 

"The necropsy showed that the cat was actually alive, when it was dragged over the top of the building by the chain and then thrown unceremoniously over the side of the building," said Animal Control Director Hilton Cole. "The bizarre part is that this cat was actually staged for people to see."

Cole says the cat may have been a stray, since it did not have any identifying features. He says he's disturbed by the images he's seen.

"Anyone that would do this to a cat obviously has no empathy, has no feelings for animals," he said.

The Humane Society of Louisiana is offering a $1,200 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the cat's death. The crime is considered a felony under Louisiana criminal statute and carries a penalty of no less than 1 year in jail and no more than 10 and no less than $5,000 and no more than $25,000, according to the Humane Society.

Those wishing to provide information are encouraged to call the Baton Rouge Animal Control Center during regular business hours, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at 225- 774-7700 or the Baton Rouge City Police Department at 225-389-2070.