Reward Up to $5,000 Offered for Help in Nabbing Cat Shooter

PETA Calls for Person(s) Who Fired More Than 20 Pellets at Cat to Be Brought to Justice, Urges Everyone to Keep Animals Indoors

For Immediate Release:
May 12, 2016

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Last Wednesday, a Pinch resident found an orange cat languishing under his deck, covered with puncture wounds. The terrified animal was taken to an emergency veterinary clinic, where veterinarians found more than 20 pellets lodged in his body, which appeared to have been shot from close range. The sweet 1-year-old cat also suffered from two broken back legs, and the veterinarians believe his injuries are the result of deliberate cruelty. He underwent surgery and is in recovery.

Authorities have yet to make any arrests in connection with the case, which is why PETA is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the violent crime.

“It takes a dangerous lack of empathy to shoot a cat more than 20 times, break his legs, and then leave him to suffer in excruciating pain,” says PETA Senior Director Colleen O’Brien. “PETA is urging anyone with information about this case to come forward immediately before anyone else gets hurt.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—advises families to keep their animal companions safely indoors and never leave them unattended outside, where they may be stolen or hurt by cruel people as well as risk contracting communicable diseases, getting lost, or being hit by cars.

Anyone with information about this case should contact the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office at 304-357-0169.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.