KAILUA-KONA — A second anonymous donor has increased the reward for information leading to the prosecution of those responsible for the shooting of three cats on Hawaii Island.
KAILUA-KONA — A second anonymous donor has increased the reward for information leading to the prosecution of those responsible for the shooting of three cats on Hawaii Island.
The donor, a member of the community, contributed an additional $1,000, bringing the total reward to $2,000, Hawaii Island Humane Society Executive Director Donna Whitaker said Friday.
The humane society announced the initial $1,000 reward on Wednesday, about a week after the latest incident in which a cat had to be euthanized after it was found barely alive late last month at a North Kona park with an arrow embedded in its body.
The black female cat was the third to suffer life-ending injuries after being shot with arrows since December 2016. The humane society said the reward is for any tips that lead to prosecution in any of the three incidents.
The first instance occurred Dec. 19, 2016, when a cat was found injured by an arrow in the Target parking lot in Kona and the second incident of a cat shot with an arrow was reported in the Hilo area about six months later.
Humane society officers found and recovered the black female cat Aug. 28 at Harold H. Higashihara Park. The cat appeared to have been shot six to eight days prior.
The torture or mutilation of pet animals as well as the killing or attempted killing of pet animals without the legal authority or consent of the animal’s owner is a class C felony punishable by one to five years imprisonment.
Anyone with any information on the incident may make an anonymous statement to Roxy O’Neal at the Hawaii Island Humane Society at 329-1175. They can also call police at 935-3311.
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Is a “pet animal” the same as “an animal that is a pet”? From the description of where the animals were found it sounds like feral cats. While I don’t think torturing or killing animals is defensible in this case, if these were indeed feral cats it seems like a different crime than killing a cat that is a family pet.
Too bad they did not get that upset when the kid murdered the albatross on Oahu. Or shoot at the I’o. I don’t think animals should be tortured, either, but maybe that is why you should eradicate them kindly.
Killing a defenseless animal for “sport / fun” is a cruel and sick act. If you go into the background of psycho killers they start out with animal cruelty, arson and bed wetting. Maybe somebody’s mommy didn’t hug them enough or they strike out with the ladies….anyway you cut it. They are less than human if this is all they have to make themselves feel powerful. SICK!