The Humane Society of Elkhart County has issued a statement condemning the controversial deaths of two cats put into a trash compactor at a local RV factory.

The statement read, in part, that “crushing an animal in a compactor is not an approved method of humane euthanasia and does not meet any accepted standards.

They also state that the case reveals a troubling gap between what’s “legal” and what’s “ethical” and they urge the community and lawmakers to pursue more defined standards and more humane responses in all animal cases.

Last week, the Elkhart County Prosecutor announced she would not criminally charge the three men involved in the cats’ deaths.