36° L/SNOW, Frightened family asks why its pets were shot
Last Modified: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 10:37 p.m.
FLORENCE - Torie, an orange Tabby cat who belongs to Sheryl Ingle, looks out a window, wanting to go outside and play.
Until recently, any time she wanted to go outside, Torie could count on an open door.
But now, the only time Torie or any of Ingle's five pets - three dogs and two cats - go out, someone is with them.
After two of the animals were shot and injured in the past three weeks, Ingle said she's afraid to let any of her animals go outdoors alone.
"I have children; I'm scared for them to be in the backyard and for our animals to be in my backyard," said Ingle, who moved into a residence on Old Cloverdale Road in May.
On Aug. 1, Ingle said Torie showed up on the front porch after she had been missing for a day.
"She was all torn up and had a hole in her leg," Ingle said. "We didn't know what happened to her."
She said at first she thought the cat may have been run over by a car or attacked. A trip to the veterinarian determined that the cat had been shot.
"The bullet shattered the bone in her right shoulder, bounced off and lodged in her chest, just missing her heart," Ingle said. "The bullet is still in my cat and she's partially paralyzed because of the shooting."
Ingle said she has no idea why the animal was shot or when.
On Saturday morning, her dog, Oreo, a black and white Boston terrier, was found on the back porch, also shot.
"I had let the dog out in the backyard (about 6:30 a.m.) and she loves to run along the fence chasing squirrels, and then she gets tired and lays down near the house," Ingle explained. "When I opened the door to let her in, there was blood all over the back porch."
She said Oreo was shot in her right side.
"What worries me is I have children, and the night before (Oreo was shot) they were jumping on the trampoline near the spot where the dog was laying when it was shot," Ingle said.
According to the veterinarian, it appears that both animals were shot with a .22-caliber weapon, Ingle said.
Ingle has reported the shootings to Florence police, and authorities are trying to find out who is responsible for hurting the animals.
"I'm aware of the situation and we're looking into it," Florence Police Chief Rick Singleton said. "We have been in the neighborhood and talked with some neighbors.
"I understand her concern. If someone shot my pets, I would be upset and concerned."
Ingle said she doesn't understand why anyone would shoot animals, and until that question is answered, none of her five animals goes outside alone.
"When they go out, we go out. At this point, we're afraid not to," she said.
Anyone knowing anything about the incidents is asked to contact Florence police at 768-2728 or Shoals Area CrimeStoppers at 386-8685.
Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.
TimesDaily reporter Bernie Delinski contributed to this story.
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Comments
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August 27, 2008 5:17:30 am
RE: http://www.timesdaily.com/arti...7/ARTICLES/808270325
I think it safe to say they were no threat to anyone. The threat seems to be carrying a .22 rifle and a demonic spirit.
August 27, 2008 6:06:28 am
People like that are a disgrace to all of humanity!
August 27, 2008 6:54:38 am
Hope the cops catch these criminals and lock them up for awhile. There was NO reason to do this.
August 27, 2008 7:27:19 am
slinking around till they find the wild beasts??
coward. sadist. future serial killer?? they say this is how it starts.
Angels all around your little pets, Ingles family...and your children!
and may God bring their darkness to Light...soon!
August 27, 2008 7:29:53 am
GRRRRRRRRR I DON'T EVEN HAVE WORDS TO CONVEY HOW ANGRY THIS MAKES ME! THOSE POOR ANIMALS!
August 27, 2008 7:34:40 am
FV i couldnt say it better.It,s someone that wasnt blessed with the joy of having a pet growing up.Pets are a parents best tool to instill love,kindness and responsilbilty in kids.One of our neighbors[rural]decided to go on a shooting spree after his wife passed away!By the time i figured it out&confronted him he had killed[guestimate]6,7 dogs,including our beloved beagle "giblet".These dogs werent even on his property.We have 15 acres with family owning all ajoining land.Gibbles wasnt a pet she was part of the family.I suggest this person start taking walks to scope out the neighborhood-before a child is hurt.They even might want to set up a camera to nail the sicko.
August 27, 2008 8:01:02 am
I hope the monsters are caught that are shooting poor defenseless pets. But more than being caught I hope they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and put in prison for the maximum sentence one can receive for this kind of violence. Good luck to you Ingle family.
August 27, 2008 8:46:08 am
It's time that this country change the law making killing animals a felony. I am sick and tired of people who do thngs like this getting nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
August 27, 2008 10:59:38 am
This poor family... I hope they find who did it and let the family pick the punishment!
August 27, 2008 1:06:10 pm
I don't know much about guns but after reading this story I asked a few people that are, they said, with the type of gun used the shooter was within 100 yards of his/her target. That is scarey, if this person will shoot animals that are in their own back yard. Just think when the fun wears off animals, they could turn to humans.This person needs to be caught before they kill someone.
My thoughts go out to this family, I know if this was my pets, I would not rest until the one responsible was in JAIL.
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