Instead of making offenders pay money for a parking ticket, police officials in an Indiana city came up with a different option.

>> Read more trending news

During mid-July, people were allowed to pay off their parking tickets by donating cat food or cat litter, WXIN reported. The Muncie Police Department ran the promotion from July 15 through July 19.

Police officials came up with the idea as a way to help the Muncie Animal Care and Services Shelter, CNN reported. Police discovered the shelter was running short on supplies to care for more than 350 cats and kittens, according to WXIN.

All the parking offenders had to do was bring an amount of cat food or litter equal to the amount of the ticket. The results were gratifying.

"I don't know if the Police Department plans on doing this again, but we're incredibly grateful to them and the community. Their response was overwhelming," shelter office manager Ashley Honeycutt told CNN.

"A lot of people have donated cat food and litter this week," officials with the Muncie Police Department wrote on its official Twitter account. "Most of these people didn't even have a parking ticket."

About the Author

Featured

In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com