A cat was rescued Sunday after being thrown from a moving vehicle on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, which spans the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia. A witness reported seeing a person attempting to toss the feline from a car to the Prince George’s County Division of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police.
Police responded to the scene and found the orange cat unharmed, seeking refuge behind a railing. In a video shared by the police department, an officer can be heard coaxing the meowing animal to safety.
"Come on. I got you, baby. You can do it," the officer said to the cat.
Photos released by the department show the cat perched on the bridge and later held by an officer.
"We commend the citizen for speaking up and our officers for taking immediate action to protect a defenseless animal," the police department stated. "Acts of animal cruelty are taken seriously, and we encourage anyone who witnesses abuse or neglect to report it immediately!"
The cat is now receiving veterinary care. No further details about the incident or the individuals involved were immediately available.