LORAIN AND HURON COUNTIES, OHIO: Alley Cat Allies, the leader of the global movement to protect cats and kittens, is doubling its reward offer from $5,000 to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for shooting and maiming a cat with a shotgun.

The cat victim, George, was found injured in Henrietta Township. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Friendship Animal Protective League (APL) humane investigations hotline at?(440) 322-4321 x 225.

“We are determined to bring George’s shooter to justice; for George and the safety of animals and people throughout the area,” said Coryn Julien, program communications officer for Alley Cat Allies. “We hope increasing the reward will bring in information that pinpoints the perpetrator of this cruelty so they can be penalized to the fullest extent of the law.”

George, a ~3-year-old community cat, or unowned cat who lives outdoors, walked up to his caregiver on the morning of April 13 with his rear left leg dangling behind him. A veterinary examination revealed buckshot in the shattered leg, demonstrating that George had been maimed by a shotgun. The damage was so severe that George’s injured leg had to be surgically amputated.

“We thank Alley Cat Allies for this critical step to help investigate and prosecute the person or persons responsible for George’s suffering,” said Greg Willey, executive director at Friendship APL. “If anyone has any relevant information, we ask that you please come forward for the sake of our entire community.”

Alley Cat Allies covered the costs of George’s surgery and ongoing care. He recovered in foster care and was adopted this week.

Every animal deserves to be protected and safe from animal cruelty. All 50 states, including Ohio and the District of Columbia, have enacted laws criminalizing acts of cruelty toward animals.

Again, anyone with information for the cruelty investigation is urged to contact:

The Friendship Animal Protective League (APL) humane investigations hotline:?(440) 322-4321 x 225.

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About Alley Cat Allies

Alley Cat Allies believes every cat deserves to live out his or her life to the fullest.

Founded in 1990, Alley Cat Allies is the leading advocacy organization for cats with a mission to transform and develop communities to protect and improve the lives of all cats and kittens. Together with our over 1.4 million supporters, we work toward a world where cats are valued and every community has humane and effective programs and policies to defend them.

Through our fearless advocacy, humane care, education and outreach, and law and policy activism, we empower and mobilize citizens, advocates, grassroots groups, shelters, veterinary professionals, and elected officials across the United States and around the world to improve their communities for cats through nonlethal, evidence-based approaches. Our website is www.alleycat.org, and we are active on FacebookX (Twitter)InstagramLinkedIn and YouTube.