Oakland Cat Shootings Prompt $10,000 Reward From Nonprofit Group
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- An Oakland nonprofit is offering a $10,000 reward to help find the person who shot a number of cats with a pellet gun in recent weeks, with one cat having to be euthanized because of its injuries.
Oakland Animal Services said in a Facebook post that it has taken in four cats with severe injuries from a pellet gun within a two-mile radius of the city's Lower Dimond neighborhood.
"He had a BB in his spine. He couldn't hunt, he couldn't move. He was dying when he got here and we euthanized him for humane reasons. We try to save as many as we can, but that was the humane thing to do with him," said OAS Director Rebecca Katz.
Aside from the cat that was euthanized, another injured cat named Percy had to have a leg amputated.
The shelter said the group Friends of Oakland Animal Services (FOAS) is offering the reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the shootings.
FOAS is raising money online to help pay for the reward and said in the online post all the injuries appear to be related and to have come from the same type of weapon.
"Violence against animals is one of the strongest indicators for other crimes and violent acts," said Katz in a prepared statement. "The cruelty of these acts is of concern to both the human and nonhuman members of Oakland's community."
"Be careful with your own animals. We don't know who's doing this or why. And I certainly wouldn't want to see any other animals hurt. And also, be concerned ... about having someone like this in the community and whatever other harm they could be causing," said Katz.
Anyone with information about the cat shootings was urged to contact the Oakland Animal Services tipline at 510-535-4895.
