Cat shot with arrow, survives
Saint Joseph, MO (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Feb 13, 2010
County: Buchanan
Disposition: Open
Case Images: 1 files available
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
Jeanne Houston drove up to her house on Cambridge Street, right off County Line Road, Saturday night and was horrified at what was awaiting her arrival. Her pet cat, Kitty, was sitting in the driveway, shot with an arrow through its back.
“It was dark outside, so I thought it just had a stick in its fur,” Ms. Houston said. “But then I saw it was an arrow, straight through the cat.”
Ms. Houston called her daughter and son, who came over to help. Her son trimmed back the arrow with bolt cutters so it would not cause more damage to the cat.
Ms. Houston and her daughter, Renee Schenecker, took the cat to All Creatures Animal Hospital on Monday, hoping for the best.
“We were able to remove the arrow without incident, but now the cat has a very large opening by its left arm,” said Joann Branson, the veterinarian who worked on the cat. “Right now he is very active and eating and drinking appropriately, but now we are fighting infection.”
It will be determined over the next week when Ms. Houston will be able to take the cat home. Dr. Branson said if an infection spreads, they will have to amputate the cat’s leg.
“The cat is such a good cat, but now is struggling to survive,” Ms. Houston said. “We have a lot of hunters in our area, but we also have a lot of children, so I don’t think this was an accident.”
Dr. Branson believes it could not have been an accident. She said the arrow looked like an expensive deer-hunting arrow and something that is not usually simply shot into the air.
“I cannot believe someone would want to shoot a cat just for fun,” Ms. Schenecker said. “Anyone that could do this to an innocent animal would most likely do this to a person.”
Ms. Houston works two jobs, just to make ends meet. She said her daughter is an animal lover and would have to cover the veterinary bills until she could pay her back.
Ms. Schenecker is offering a $100 reward for information leading to the prosecution of the person responsible. She has filed a police report, and the arrow has been confiscated for possible fingerprint matches.
Case UpdatesSo far, it seems like Kitty, the pet cat shot by an arrow on Cambridge Street, will have a happy ending. Donations to help pay the animal's veterinary bills have increased, and more reward money is being offered.
"It has been overwhelming the support we have gotten," said Renee Schenecker, daughter of Jeanne Houston, who owns the cat. "All Creatures (Animal Hospital) said the phone has been ringing off the hook with people calling, wanting to help the cat."
The reward for the person or persons responsible for shooting the cat has increased to $200. But no additional information has been reported to the St. Joseph Police Department.
"We have been crying all day from the outpouring of love that we have seen from everyone," Ms. Schenecker said. "It was all a good cry, though."
Ms. Schenecker has yet to establish a fund for the donations. On Monday, Ms. Houston and Ms. Schenecker will check on Kitty's prognosis and decide how best to collect the donations.
As of Friday, Kitty was still eating and drinking appropriately and trying to use his injured leg. Dr. Joann Branson, the veterinarian who removed the arrow from the cat, said his outcome looks promising.
"There seems to be no nerve damage, and we are still trying to clear the infection with antibiotics," Dr. Branson said. "It looks like it will turn out pretty well."
Medical bills could range up to $1,100, depending on how long the cat stays at All Creatures and if the leg needs to be amputated. However, help is coming from all over the community to help Ms. Houston cover the medical bills.
"We have offered to neuter Kitty and bring him up to date on his vaccinations," said Laurie Salanski, executive director of the Humane Society of St. Joseph.
Ms. Houston agreed that as soon as Kitty is returned to her, the cat will live indoors with her, a practice that the Humane Society believes all cat owners should practice.
"He is never going outside, ever again," Ms. Schenecker said. "He doesn't know this yet, but it's for the best." | Source: St Louis Today - Feb 23, 2010
Update posted on Feb 23, 2010 - 8:31PM |
So far, it seems like Kitty, the pet cat shot by an arrow on Cambridge Street, will have a happy ending. Donations to help pay the animal’s veterinary bills have increased, and more reward money is being offered.
“It has been overwhelming the support we have gotten,” said Renee Schenecker, daughter of Jeanne Houston, who owns the cat. “All Creatures (Animal Hospital) said the phone has been ringing off the hook with people calling, wanting to help the cat.”
The reward for the person or persons responsible for shooting the cat has increased to $200. But no additional information has been reported to the St. Joseph Police Department.
“We have been crying all day from the outpouring of love that we have seen from everyone,” Ms. Schenecker said. “It was all a good cry, though.”
Ms. Schenecker has yet to establish a fund for the donations. On Monday, Ms. Houston and Ms. Schenecker will check on Kitty’s prognosis and decide how best to collect the donations.
As of Friday, Kitty was still eating and drinking appropriately and trying to use his injured leg. Dr. Joann Branson, the veterinarian who removed the arrow from the cat, said his outcome looks promising.
“There seems to be no nerve damage, and we are still trying to clear the infection with antibiotics,” Dr. Branson said. “It looks like it will turn out pretty well.”
Medical bills could range up to $1,100, depending on how long the cat stays at All Creatures and if the leg needs to be amputated. However, help is coming from all over the community to help Ms. Houston cover the medical bills.
“We have offered to neuter Kitty and bring him up to date on his vaccinations,” said Laurie Salanski, executive director of the Humane Society of St. Joseph.
Ms. Houston agreed that as soon as Kitty is returned to her, the cat will live indoors with her, a practice that the Humane Society believes all cat owners should practice.
“He is never going outside, ever again,” Ms. Schenecker said. “He doesn’t know this yet, but it’s for the best.” | Source: St Joe News - Feb 21, 2010
Update posted on Feb 22, 2010 - 2:24AM |
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