A shelter in Humboldt said a 1-year-old cat died after someone used it for target practice. On Thursday night, a woman and her children contacted the Moffitt Animal Shelter and found an injured cat. At first glance, it was assumed that the cat, whom the shelter named Scoob, was suffering from a head injury. “You couldn’t tell with the naked eye exactly what was going on with this cat,” said Miranda Peterson, the shelter’s executive director. However, through an X-ray on Friday morning, it came to light what Scoob was really up against. Peterson said Dr. Erin Kramer, a veterinarian and owner of Harmony Animal Hospital, found more than 30 pellets. “She said someone had obviously been doing some shooting practice with this jack,” Peterson said. The pellets were found inside Scoob from the top of his head down to his legs. Peterson said Scoob also suffered a head injury, an infected toe and a broken pupil. “In the future, Scoob would have to have his eye removed. We figured we’d give him a couple of weeks to get over the infection,” Peterson said. “Then we would remove the eye and then castrate it all at the same time.” However, Scoob didn’t make it. Peterson said he died peacefully, surrounded by love, Friday morning. One thing Peterson emphasizes is that he never had to come to this. “This cat would have lived a happy life in someone’s home and made a wonderful friend if they had brought him in as a stray instead of shooting him,” Peterson said. Peterson said Scoob was friendly and kind, which means she didn’t think he was a wild cat. However, she said his death opens up the conversation about what people should do instead of taking matters into their own hands. “If he has a problem with cats, reach out,” Peterson said. “Let us know. We go to the problem area and start trapping them and get them out of there. We fix them.” Peterson said she reported this to the Humboldt Sheriff’s Office. For the past few days, the shelter has been keeping people up to date through its Facebook page. Many people started donating and asking how they could help. Peterson says the shelter team is grateful for the many donations received, which will go toward shelter vet bills for Scoob and other animals brought to them injured and in need of help. If you would like to make a donation or contact the Moffitt Animal Shelter if you are concerned about animals, you can do so here.
A shelter in Humboldt said a 1-year-old cat died after someone used it for target practice.
On Thursday night, a woman and her children contacted the Moffitt Animal Shelter and found an injured cat. At first glance, it was assumed that the cat, whom the shelter named Scoob, was suffering from a head injury.
“You couldn’t tell with the naked eye exactly what was going on with this cat,” said Miranda Peterson, the shelter’s executive director.
However, through an X-ray on Friday morning, it came to light what Scoob was really up against.
Peterson said Dr. Erin Kramer, a veterinarian and owner of Harmony Animal Hospital, found more than 30 pellets.
“She said someone had obviously been doing some shooting practice with this cat,” Peterson said.
The pellets were found inside Scoob from the top of his head down to his legs.
Peterson said Scoob also suffered a head injury, an infected toe and a broken pupil.
“In the future, Scoob would have to have his eye removed. We figured we’d give him a couple of weeks to get over the infection,” Peterson said. “Then we would remove the eye and then castrate it all at the same time.”
However, Scoob didn’t make it. Peterson said he died peacefully, surrounded by love, Friday morning.
One thing Peterson emphasizes is that it never had to come to this.
“This cat would have lived a happy life in someone’s home and made a wonderful friend if they had brought him in as a stray instead of shooting him,” Peterson said.
Peterson said Scoob was friendly and kind, which means he didn’t think it was a wild cat.
However, he said his death opens up the conversation about what people should do instead of taking matters into their own hands.
“If you have a problem with cats, please reach out,” Peterson said. “Let us know. We go to the problem area and start catching them and get them out of there. We fix them.”
Peterson said he reported this to the Humboldt Sheriff’s Office.
For the past few days, the shelter has been keeping people up to date through its Facebook page. Many people started donating and asking how they could help. Peterson says the shelter team is grateful for the many donations received, which will go toward shelter vet bills for Scoob and other animals brought to them injured and in need of help.
If you would like to make a donation or contact the Moffitt Animal Shelter if you are concerned about animals, you are welcome to do so. here.