SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Local non profit The Meow Mission has released a statement on the news that was released earlier today of three Jayco RV manufacturing employees being charged with felonies after they knowingly put two live cats in a trash compactor back in February.

“As a community, we all need to know that animal cruelty is taken seriously. We hope that these [now former] employees are held accountable with the law if found guilty of the alleged crime.”

The Meow Mission says it is equally disturbed and troubled by the statement given by Jayco’s Vice President of Operations to the Middlebury Police, who police say, "indicated he believed the men acted in the company’s best interest by placing the live cats into the trash compactor."

“Our community needs to know that this heinous act in no way is in the company's best interest as the VP stated, “said Aker.

“It is not only unacceptable that this alleged horrendous act occurred on company property by company employees, but that is also being publicly condoned by senior management.

"The Meow Mission believes that Vice President of Operations needs to be held accountable as well. They are calling on the company to immediately terminate the Vice President for perpetuating and encouraging acceptance of such violence and cruelty against animals in the workplace."

The group says it is encouraging community members to speak up in cases of alleged animal cruelty such as this one.

“We need to speak up as a community and be their voice, because without us these heinous acts will continue without legal consequences,” said Aker.