Premium ContentClick on Premium Content on the Featured navigation bar for information.
Lightning first came into DeAnn Fritsch’s life in 2008, when the stray mixed-breed cat showed up on the Neola, Iowa, woman’s porch. Fritsch took him in, keeping him on her mother’s farm near Underwood.
He was happy there.
That was before this month, when she says someone shot a “giant-sized” arrow at him.
Fritsch found Lightning in a machine shed. The arrow had pierced the right side of his neck, and the arrowhead stuck out the left side of his abdomen.
“He was still alive; he was suffering immensely,” she said. “I would say it was probably 8 inches out of both sides of this cat.”
Nothing could be done. An animal control officer put Lightning out of his misery.
Worse yet, Lightning wasn’t alone. He was one of at least three reported cases of pets being shot with arrows in Pottawattamie County in recent weeks.
The Carson Veterinary Clinic received calls on two other incidents. Karen Coshow, a clinic employee, said a woman called from the middle of the county three weeks ago asking for help with a wounded cat. By the time the woman got to the clinic, the cat was dead, Coshow said.
Another time in recent weeks, a man called and said his dog had been wounded. It also died before he could get it to the clinic.
“It’s just been a horrible thing,” Coshow said.
Sheriff Jeff Danker said he was not aware of any reports of animals being shot with arrows, but said he was concerned.
“I just can’t believe people can do that,” Fritsch said. “I don’t know if people are target-practicing on these creatures.
“It’s just not right.”
Contact the writer:
444-3106, andrew.nelson@owh.com
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
