NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio, March 24 (UPI) -- Police in Ohio said they are trying to identify the driver of a sport-utility vehicle photographed driving with a leashed cat riding on the hood.

Polly Vandall posted pictures to her Facebook page Monday morning of the leashed cat riding on the hood of the gold Buick SUV in New Philadelphia and the photos quickly went viral.


"I looked over and glanced to my left and thought 'Is that a cat on the hood?'" Vadall told WKYC-TV. "It was walking around and it was not happy to be on the hood. People around the car were staring at the cat -- quite distracted."

Police said they are working to identify the woman seen driving the SUV in the photos.

"I wish someone got a picture of the license plate," New Philadelphia Police Chief Michael Goodwin said. "We could follow up very quickly. It's a very bizarre case, unclear if it would violate any animal cruelty laws. It's the public safety of main concern to me. I've never seen anything like it in 25 years on the job."

Vandall said she is not sure if the photos depict animal cruelty.

"I'm not passing judgment on this woman. I captured a few seconds of her life. I have no idea what happened right before or right after this moment.," she said.