$1,000 reward for info on shooting of two cats in Bondsville

BONDSVILLE, Mass. (WWLP) - A $1,000 reward is being offered for information that would lead to the arrest of the person or people responsible for the shooting of two cats several weeks ago in the Bondsville section of Palmer.

Palmer, Monson, and Wales Animal Control Officer Wendy LeSage told 22News that the two cats, Tom and Gizmo, were shot with bb’s or pellets.

12 year-old Tom survived, but he was unable to have the pellet removed due to extenuating health concerns.

Gizmo, a female white cat, had a pellet removed from her back near her spine. LeSage told 22News that Dr. Michelle Haroules at the VCA Palmer Animal Clinic donated more than $200 of their services to remove the pellet.

“Both of these cats are dearly loved members of their families. It is heartbreaking to think they have been in pain and no one knew why,” LeSage wrote in a statement sent to 22News.

Gizmo was reunited with her family on Tuesday morning, and her owner, six year-old Emma McDonough is happy to have her beloved cat back.

"She means a lot to my daughter," said Emma's mother, Melissa McDonough. "She's my daughter's cat, she's had her for two years. She's a great cat, and it was definitely hard to find out that someone would actually shoot one of her animals."

According to LeSage, the reward money was made possible thanks to Lt. Alan Borgal of the Animal Rescue League of Boston and Tom’s owner, Steve Fellers.

If you have any information, call Wendy LeSage at (413) 283-7770.