The SPCA is offering a $500 reward and hoping to seek the strongest possible charges against whoever shot a cat between the eyes with an arrow last week, leading to the cat being euthanized.
Tommy, a 7-year-old orange cat, had to be put to sleep after being shot last Thursday not far from his Lackawanna home.
"Personally and professionally, my reaction was one of horror," said Gina Browning, public relations director for the SPCA Serving Erie County. "I can't begin to think of anyone who would be capable of doing this to an animal."
The shocking crime has left the family devastated and left the SPCA vowing to pursue the toughest possible criminal charge - felony cruelty - against the person responsible.
"I'm really horrified. This is totally depraved," said Barbara S. Carr, executive director of the local SPCA. "This is beyond shooting a cat with an arrow. This is shooting a cat between the eyes."
Following the posting of the $500 reward on their Facebook page, SPCA officials saw the reward total climb quickly to $700 late this morning as word spread quickly about the awful crime and outraged donors added their own contributions to the fund.
The reward was posted after two SPCA investigators canvassed the neighborhood Friday and found no strong leads.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Jessica Coughlin at the SPCA, at 629-3502.
