Cat and dog shot
Florence, AL (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Aug 23, 2008
County: Lauderdale
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Until recently, any time she wanted to go outside, Torie could count on an open door. But now, the only time Torie or any of Ingle's five pets - three dogs and two cats - go out, someone is with them.
After two of the animals were shot and injured in the past three weeks, Ingle said she's afraid to let any of her animals go outdoors alone.
"I have children; I'm scared for them to be in the backyard and for our animals to be in my backyard," said Ingle, who moved into a residence on Old Cloverdale Road in May.
On Aug. 1, Ingle said Torie showed up on the front porch after she had been missing for a day.
"She was all torn up and had a hole in her leg," Ingle said. "We didn't know what happened to her."
She said at first she thought the cat may have been run over by a car or attacked. A trip to the veterinarian determined that the cat had been shot.
"The bullet shattered the bone in her right shoulder, bounced off and lodged in her chest, just missing her heart," Ingle said. "The bullet is still in my cat and she's partially paralyzed because of the shooting."
Ingle said she has no idea why the animal was shot or when.
On Saturday morning, her dog, Oreo, a black and white Boston terrier, was found on the back porch, also shot.
"I had let the dog out in the backyard (about 6:30 a.m.) and she loves to run along the fence chasing squirrels, and then she gets tired and lays down near the house," Ingle explained. "When I opened the door to let her in, there was blood all over the back porch."
She said Oreo was shot in her right side.
"What worries me is I have children, and the night before (Oreo was shot) they were jumping on the trampoline near the spot where the dog was laying when it was shot," Ingle said.
According to the veterinarian, it appears that both animals were shot with a .22-caliber weapon, Ingle said.
Ingle has reported the shootings to Florence police, and authorities are trying to find out who is responsible for hurting the animals.
"I'm aware of the situation and we're looking into it," Florence Police Chief Rick Singleton said. "We have been in the neighborhood and talked with some neighbors.
"I understand her concern. If someone shot my pets, I would be upset and concerned."
Ingle said she doesn't understand why anyone would shoot animals, and until that question is answered, none of her five animals goes outside alone.
"When they go out, we go out. At this point, we're afraid not to," she said.
Anyone knowing anything about the incidents is asked to contact Florence police at 768-2728 or Shoals Area CrimeStoppers at 386-8685. If you have information on this case, please contact:
Crimestoppers
386-8685
References« AL State Animal Cruelty Map
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