Two cats in West Deptford, New Jersey are recovering from gunshot wounds after separate incidents left one missing a leg and the other missing an eye, and police are now asking the public for help figuring out who is responsible. Investigators say the injuries are consistent with a small-caliber gun or a pellet gun, though they have not said whether the two cases are connected.
The first cat, a tabby named Bast, escaped from Margie Green's fenced-in backyard on Ford Avenue last Wednesday and came home hours later limping, with a small amount of blood on his leg, according to CBS News Philadelphia. Green later learned Bast had been shot near her home, and the injury was severe enough that veterinarians found a shattered bone with small pieces of metal embedded in it. Bast's front left leg was amputated, and he is now recovering at home after emergency surgery.
Green told the station that harming an animal is unsettling, and that she hopes whoever is responsible understands cats are family members who should not be hurt on purpose. She said she will no longer allow her pets outside unsupervised and hopes the shooter is caught quickly.
A Second Cat Loses an Eye Near Crown Point Road
The second injured cat, Buttons, was treated for a gunshot wound to one eye at Epic Vet Urgent Care in Cherry Hill. The cat underwent emergency surgery but ultimately lost the eye. Investigators said that case happened near the intersection of Crown Point Road and Church Street in West Deptford.
Dr. Emily Volk at the urgent care clinic contacted West Deptford police after treating two consecutive gunshot cases from the same community, the station's report notes. Volk said both cats should make a full recovery after a few weeks of healing and adjustment, even as they adapt to life without a leg and an eye, respectively.
Police said the injuries to both cats were consistent with a small-caliber gun or a pellet gun, but they stopped short of saying whether the two shootings are related. Officers described the case as something they are taking extremely seriously, and are asking anyone with information to call 856-853-4599 or email Detective Goggin at [email protected].
Similar Cases Have Surfaced Across the Region
West Deptford's cases follow a string of similar shootings reported elsewhere in the region in recent months. In Spring Township, Pennsylvania, a rescue cat named Preeta was shot and killed in September, after being found dragging her back legs; a veterinarian discovered a bullet lodged in her spine, according to PennLive. Preeta's owners offered a $250 reward for information leading to the shooter's identification and arrest, and a lead investigator in that case said the shooter could face felony aggravated animal cruelty charges and possibly more.
Pennsylvania State Police separately investigated an incident in Union Township after a cat returned home with a gunshot wound to its leg, as reported by Berks Weekly. A veterinarian in that case removed a .22-caliber bullet from the animal's leg.
For now, West Deptford police are focused on their own two cases and are leaning on residents who may have seen or heard something near Ford Avenue or the Crown Point Road and Church Street area. Anyone with information is urged to reach out to the department directly as the investigation continues.
