Police Investigating After Woodland Woman's Cat Shot, Killed By Pellet Gun

WOODLAND (CBS13) - In a disturbing case of animal cruelty, a friendly house cat was paralyzed and later died from its injuries sustained from being shot by a pellet gun.

Spend five minutes with Amanda Hartman and you'll know her dogs and cats aren't just pets -- they're family. That's why she's so heartbroken over what happened to her cat Annie.

"She's a very friendly cat and she didn't deserve that. So, I was like 'gosh, who would do that to my animals?'" asked Hartman.

Pictures of the Annie's x-rays show a pellet lodged near her spine. It seems someone cruelly shot the tabby cat with a pellet gun. Harman says she got back from dinner to find the 3-year-old cat in pain near the garage. Annie had a wound in her back and was unable was unable to move her back legs.

"I took her down to the shelter and I was hysterical – Kleenex, of course -- but it broke my heart. I've had her since she was a baby," said Hartman.

She couldn't afford surgery to remove the pellet, so the vets gave Hartman medication for her cat. For a few days it looked like the orange tabby was getting better until suddenly Annie stopped eating and drinking and died.

Yolo County sheriff's deputies are investigating the case of cat cruelty that has neighbors in shock.

"We're animal lovers too. I think whoever did that ought to get caught and maybe put away for a while," neighbor John Huntsberger said.

This animal lover admits she's keeping an eye on her Woodland street, wondering who could've done it.

"I'd like charges to be brought upon this person. Animals should be treated like people; you don't hurt something innocent," said Hartman.

Hartman says a lot of children run around the neighborhood unsupervised and believes one of them may be responsible for the animal cruelty.

So far, no arrests have been made.