Ohmystinkinheck

In case you aren’t familiar with Air Rifles/Airguns, this is the ammunition; well, this is the USED ammunition. According to the vet’s assistant who saved this for me, this is likely a lightweight round nose pellet - .177 cal.

It was most likely shot from a pretty powerful air rifle that would typically be used for pest control or for long range hits/field targets.

It was MOST CERTAINLY shot from an Air Rifle/Airgun that can propel a pellet with considerable velocity. And I dont’ care how extreme you think I sound, we aren’t talking about your basic pump-it-up BB Gun. I know, we have one of those here.

Let me let you look at it again.

See that writing on the bag?

JoJo?

Yep, that’s because today this pellet was extracted out of my 14 month old cat’s HEAD.

I’m so mad I could spit fire right now.

A few days ago we noticed JoJo had a small bump on his head - a small, but very sensitive bump. And then it started growing and getting smushy. I kept an eye on it, figuring I’d take him to the vet if it got any bigger or didn’t go away. In addition to the bump, he had a small, not prominent, crusty spot above his ear. We weren’t surprised because he’s had to defend our backyard from a wild stray that kept trying to get JoJo and Rachel’s food. There have been a few scraps.

Anyway, much to my delight this very sensitive bump seemed to disappear, but we noticed yesterday it didn’t really disappear, it just moved further back on his head, and it was still sensitive and growing. That same night (last night) JoJo’s face became extremely swollen. I thought perhaps it was from a bee sting because it happened so fast and literally his nose, forehead, cheeks, and EVERYTHING were so swollen. His head was hot to the touch on top and there was that bump still.

A closer look showed that the scratch behind his ear was now gaping open a bit.

An hour later JoJo threw up his dinner.

This morning he was at the vet’s at 8:00 am.

Seems someone SHOT my cat.

The bullet traveled, breaking up little crunchy bits right under the skin and lodged-in at the top of his head. I guess it became irritated and from there, the infection pushed the pellet back towards the back of his head.

In the shot above, you can see there are two areas - one was the entry point and the other, the extraction cut. The vet was able to push the pellet as far as the circle area and from there, cut through to extract the pellet.

JoJo’s doing fine now, but me? - I’m livid.

This is a small neighborhood.
There are animal owners I WOULD ENJOY shooting with more than just a pellet gun (Most specifically, the owners of the yip yip dogs placed in a cage at the farthest corner of their back yard - which just so happens to be close to the side of the house where I SLEEP). Do I shoot them though? No, of course not. Will I free their dogs one day and find them new homes without the consent of their owners? Possibly.

In the last month I have worked with local Animal Control to catch 3 wild strays that have been transported to our local Humane Shelter. One of them I could have easily shot for the damage he’s done to JoJo and Rachel. Seriously, I have no love for this animal. When I say there was no love for this cat, you have to understand this was an ATTACK cat - there is no better way to put it. He’d hide on a roof and jump in for an attack. HORRIBLY WILD CAT.

The fact that someone felt they should take up target practice on MY cat - my DECLAWED cat who lays around in the sun letting the new kitten figure out how to catch frogs and all other little moving things, because my cat? He’s chillin’.

I feel like walking door to door with pellet in hand and asking everyone who’ll open their door if they recognize it. And if they do, hand them the vet bill.

Or better yet, I’ll shoot them with their own air rifle and pellets.
Y’know, just so they could know how it felt.

I haven’t decided my plan of attack.

I know, I know, where’s the love?
Right now?
Hiding.

53 Responses to “Not such a beautiful day in the neighborhood.”

1. karen

   OMG. I’m sick just thinking about your poor kitty! I’d be inclined to go find the shooter and let them know what it feels like to be on the other end of the pellet gun, too…unless I was not so blinded by rage that I could rise up. Which I don’t know if I could do, as my temper is generally a lot faster than my reason. Maybe you’re better than I am?

2. Just A Girl

   If I were you I would be walking door to door not just to find the SOB who had hurt my pet but also to let other people know what was going on so that their pet isn’t the latest victim.

3. LisaAnniePants

   I think I would be doing the door to door search. Not that anyone would admit to it but at least it would get the word out.
   Maybe you should offer a reward for info leading the capture of this psychotic criminal? (just a thought)
   Give Jo Jo a scratch from me. Poor Kitty.

4. Marue

   A few years ago some kids were teasing my dog through the fence with an air gun. She was coming unwound. I never heard the shot but she came in the house with a wound between her eyes. I took her to the vet. He couldn’t find the pellet but was very upset when I told him what I suspected the kids had done. Luckily it bounced off her head and just left an ugly mark. Needless to say, when my husband got back in town and I saw that kid, he got a lecture from my husband. I’d recognize that mohawk ponytail anywhere. He denied the whole thing, of course.

   Hope JoJo’s OK.

5. Mrs. Wilson

   Poor JoJo! I am totally not an animal lover, but I am NOT an animal shooter! It takes someone with no conscience to do that to a little kitty.

   I hope he heals quickly!

6. Natalie

   Horrible.
   No sense… some people have no sense, and the rest of us have to put up with it. We had to deal with a horribly wild cat… scary for us, as much as our poor kitties, but someone that takes shots… that is too, too much.
   Lots of sympathy.

7. Gin

   JoJo is looking good from the picture! Thank God for that.

   Now, plan of attack, can I come down for a short visit and go door knocking with you? I would love to! You must understand. This is The Furry Pad writing you. I love my beasts and I used to live nextdoor to EXPLETIVES who did the exact same thing to wildlife - all the time. I tried doing something about it, but we were their only neighbors, so reporting them would have been very obvious. Today though, hands down, I would call the cops in a heartbeat.

   Looking forward to reading about your plan of attack!

8. Peggy

   That is really terrible! How could someone do that? Unfortunetly it happens a lot. (I’ve been watching a lot of Animal Cops lately ;)

9. Jen

   That is terrible! Oh, your poor kitty. What in the heck is wrong with people?

10. Sue at nobaddays and eLuckypacket

    Hugs Heather - that’s awful!

11. Angella

    I can’t believe someone SHOT YOUR CAT!!

    Who ARE these people???

12. mary

    Oh you are KIDDING me. I would be on FIRE (as I know you are). Really. I would need to be restrained. I am waiting on pins & needles to see how this turns out…

13. Liz C.

    It’s a case of “hate the sin, love the sinner”–and the best way to show true love toward someone who would shoot an animal he didn’t plan to eat is to make sure they feel the full consequence of the actions and/or law, so they can repent and avoid such cruelty escalating in the future.

    Poor kitty! I’m so glad it didn’t abscess into the bone or brain!!

14. Mom24

    That makes me want to throw up. I am so sorry for your poor kitty. I hope it’s feeling MUCH better soon. Why are people such idiots?

    BTW–Where we live there were some stupid, stupid teens who went on someone’s property that had previously been the sight of stupid kids “ghosting”–looking for ghosts. What did the homeowner do? Yell at them to go away? No. Call the police? No. He shot one of them. It’s amazing what some idiots will do.

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,210181,00.html

15. Amanda

    Poor Jojo! It takes a sick individual to do that to an animal. I’m so sorry that someone shot your cat. It makes me ill just thinking about it.

16. Elda

    OMFG! I am LIVID for you! I would go BANGING on doors and asking if they recognized it. That way if they knew the person that actually did it - they could relay the message.

17. Rhi

    This makes me want to cry. So horrible.

18. Aimee Greeblemonkey

    oh nooooo. I am so sad.

    xoxox

19. Beth

    Oh this makes me so mad! How dare someone! I am so glad your kitty is doing well in spite.

20. Melanie

    That’s just sick and wrong. Commence to knocking sister! I’m sure the other pet owners would appreciate knowing what’s going on. Glad Jo Jo’s going to be OK.

21. Kate

    I would definitely be going door to door, spreading the word that the authorities have been notified and that HELLFIRE will rain down on the person’s head if they ever are seen even HOLDING a pellet gun in your neighborhood. Absolutely intolerable.

    Aside from the blatant cruelty which makes my blood BOIL, what about the safety issue? There are people in your neighboorhod, are there not?

    At the very least, I would be notifying the police that someone is discharging a weapon in a residential neighborhood. I’m pretty sure it’s not legal.

22. Kate

    Oh, and kiss sweet JoJo’s fuzzy cheekers for me.

23. MidlifeSlices™

    First let me say I’m sorry about your cat and it makes me furious….and then let me say…..I’m sorry, but this line (Or better yet, I’ll shoot them with their own air rifle and pellets.) made me bust out laughing and spit my Dr. Pepper across the kitchen……so I’d better go clean it up. I hope tomorrow is a better day at the OMSH household.

24. mon@rch

    OMG . . . that is horrible thing. People are stupid and I suggest you take a pellet to their head if you ever figure out who did that to your cat!

25. LaurenC

    Oh that makes me so incredibly mad.
    I hope karma kicks them in the behind….preferably with a pellet gun too.
    Sending out good vibes for JoJo. I hope he is all better soon.

26. Michelle

    Yeah, I’m voting for door to door, too! LOL Keep us posted.

27. hana

    I agree with Kate’s last paragraph. In a residential area, that could have hit a person also.

    Here’s hoping that Thursday will be better for you!

28. Mrs. G.

    What is going on with knuckle heads and pellet guns. This is the 3rd time I’ve heard a story like involving pets in one month. I hope Jo Jo has a speedy recovery.

29. bethany actually

    Oh, no! Someone SHOT that sweet, loving kitty!?! People are insane! I am so, SO glad JoJo is okay. I hope he continues to mend and that he somehow figures out in his kitty wisdom who shot him and starts pooping on their front porch.

30. Mr. OMSH

    Hey, I just hope he remembers the house from which he got shot, so he’ll stay away. He’s a good cat.

31. Elizabeth

    Brutal. I’m so sorry for this, but SO glad that JoJo will be okay!

32. Jen4 @ amazingtrips

    Oh my stinkin’ heck. I don’t know what I’d do if someone shot my 14-month old pet. I think I’d be out doing a door to door survey while carrying a baseball bat.

    But I really don’t see that being a tactic that Jesus or Ghandi would employ…

33. naomi

    on the last summer that i was employed at my old job i was helping out with their annual yard sale which they do to raise funds for things like fun snacks for the drop in centre) and i heard a pop/ping and then a clunk as something hit the siding of the building, then i heard the pop/ping again and felt a stinging on the back of my thigh…someone had shot me with a pellet gun. i called the police and they took a report but there wasn’t a whole lot they could do. i didn’t see anything strange and with things like that they get away quickly and the person is left wondering what’s in the minds of someone who would do such a thing.

34. Starwoodgal

    I’m happy your baby is okay.

    I’d kick that person in the shins for you if I could.

35. Mandy

    OH NO! That is so horrible. I just don’t understand people. An older man walking down the street last week tried to provoke his very big dog into “Going after” my 14 pound dog because I didn’t have a leash on him and “It would serve me right”. I was so angry and shocked. Not to mention he did this right in front of my young kids that thought their dog was about to get eaten. People just make me crazy sometimes. I hope and will definitely pray that your kitty gets better very soon! This is so horrible!

36. Shannon

    First of all….BIG HUGS!
    Second hopefully a present will come today and cheer you up!
    Third of all …… been there so I know what you are going through, twice. First time was a neighbor ran my dog over, he was so sick from it. Second time after we moved into our house 9 year ago my neighbor two doors down was drunk and took a shot at our dog, thinking it was a deer and missed her and hit my oldest son’s bedroom window. I know the anger you are going through. I know the emotions and all I can say is not to do anything until your head is a bit cooler.
    Karma is a witch and it is like a singing door and it will come back and hit them in the butt.

37. Shannon

    that should read a swinging door not a singing!

38. The True Vine

    This post reinforces our resolve to keep our new kitten indoors at all times.

    (One of our roosters was killed by our neighbor yesterday, but at least it was totally unintentional and he felt bad about it.)

39. robiewankenobie

    holy crap! this happened to us, too! unbeknownst to me, our jerkass neighbor had his kid visiting for christmas, and he gave him a gun. one night i left the dog out back to run around the corner and pick up a friend. when we came back the dog was whining, but all we could find is a wee little scratch behind her ear. we called the vet and they told us just to put peroxide on it. we didn’t think about it after that since she healed up just fine.

    when we went for her annual check up i asked about this bump on her head. the vet looked at me and said, “what did you do to your dog?!” i didn’t know what he was talking about. turns out he had found a b.b. in her on her head. it had migrated to the very top middle section.

40. lorimo

    Oh no… I am glad that JoJo is okay. I suppose it would be hard to do anything about it and keep the peace in the neighborhood, but that is just horrible.

41. Kristin

    Surely there is a special place in hell for people who abuse animals. So glad your kitty is ok.

42. sherry

    I am livid on your behalf. That’s disgusting. I don’t care if someone’s not an animal fan themselves, you still don’t go around SHOOTING at them.

43. Jess

    Our old neighbors did that to our cat too - for sitting on the top of his ratty old car. Sorry about JoJo.

44. RebelRescuer

    Sorry OMSH, but there is a lot of risk in allowing animals outside to roam freely. While in most areas, its legal for cats to roam, the average life expectany of these cats is only six years.
    I’m a dog rescuer and I hate anyone that abuses animals. But if it were me, I’d keep the kitties in my own house/yard. Much safer that way.

45. OMSH

    RebelRescuer - I understand what you’re saying, but JoJo doesn’t roam. So…um…we thought we were keeping him safe.

46. Angie Garza

    That makes me so mad! You almost was to plot a sentry post and be on the look out for the little creeps that did this. I’ve done that before and cught two neighbor brats jumping over my fence. I scared the be-jezus out of them. ang

47. Aileen

    I can’t believe someone would just go up to random animals, pets even, and just shoot them! What kind of world are we living in?!

    You are right to be livid… I would be too. I think you SHOULD go door to door and ask people if they recognize it. If you find the culprit, I think you should shoot them in the butt! Then tar and feather them! Let Jojo use them as a scratching post! Wait… Jojo is declawed?? Slather them with cat nip or whatever it is Jojo loves to eat most!

    Poor kitty… glad to hear that he will be OK…

48. JackieW.

    When my brother lived in Conroe his mini van was hit by 2 bb pellets by some neighbor boys.

49. d-ann

    aww that is horrible.. Hopefully this person realizes how cruel this is.

50. Cuteluc

    I was just passing through your blog… and came across this post.
    I can not believe how someone could be so evil, I really feel for you, your family and even more your cat.
    I just want to say, well done, it seems as though you have handled this terrible situation very well.If that happened to my cat, I don’t know what I would do!
    I hope Jo Jo is feeling better now, as it is a week on :)

51. Jenna Z

    This is terrible, I’m so sorry you had to go through this. Kids (teens in particular) can be terrible. A good reason to keep only indoor cats, they are safe and sound! We have one neighbor who has two troubled teen boys and they shoot fireworks and do who knows what else in their yard so I could never let an animal outside without supervision.

52. sarah bean

    GAH! Wrong wrong wrong.
    Sometimes people suck :(
    Lots of people don’t too though. *sigh*

53. erin

    behind on reading. i don’t think there needs to be any love. they shot your animal. i am so sorry for jojo. such a sweet baby.