PULASKI, Va. (WFXR) — PETA announced Thursday a reward of up to $5,000 in exchange for information that leads to the arrest and conviction on cruelty charges of the person(s) involved in shooting a black cat with an arrow in Pulaski, which resulted in the cat being euthanized.
According to the Pulaski Police Department, an officer was dispatched to the 100 block of South Madison Avenue on Sunday, Dec. 6, following a report about a cat being shot with an arrow.
Even though police say the animal was alive when the officer found him, the cat — estimated by PETA to be between one and two-years-old — had an arrow through his shoulder, all the way through his chest cavity, and barely missing his spine.
Julie Webb with the Pulaski County Animal Control told WFXR News the cat was transported for emergency care to Town and Country in Christiansburg.
It was discussed and determined that even if surgery was attempted, the prognosis was not good. The decision was then made to humanely euthanize the cat to prevent further suffering.”
JULIE WEBB, SENIOR ACO/SHELTER MANAGER WITH PULASKI COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL
“This horrific attack is a stark reminder of the dangers that cats face when they’re left outdoors unprotected,” said PETA Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “PETA is urging anyone with information about this case to come forward immediately so that the shooter of this cat can be held accountable and stopped from hurting anyone else.”
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—says that cats should never be let outdoors unattended because they may contract diseases such as feline AIDS, be hit by cars, or be harmed by humans.
According to Webb, the crime of shooting the cat with an arrow would be considered a class 6 felony and could carry a sentence of one to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $2,500.
If you have any information about this incident, you are asked to contact Detective Rick Riddle of the Pulaski Police Department at (540) 994-8609.
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