The community has raised over $10,000 to help pay for a family’s vet bills after their pet cat was shot and left paralyzed while he was walking around in Crystal Lake.
Crystal Lake resident Kylie Rodriguez told Lake and McHenry County Scanner the incident happened on Saturday morning.
Her pet cat, Timmy, was seen on her surveillance camera walking in the backyard normally at 9:37 a.m.
Just over an hour later, the surveillance camera captured Timmy injured and dragging his hind legs around 10:50 a.m.
Rodriguez said she found Timmy around 6 p.m. Saturday. He was meowing and dragging his hind legs.
She transported her cat to Companion Animal Hospital, which confirmed Timmy had been shot and a bullet was lodged in his spine.
The cat was diagnosed with paralysis as a result of the incident. “The paralysis is really tough for the both of us. Having to express his bladder and him moving around is very frustrating for him,” Rodriguez said.
“Every day he seems to be getting a little better,” Rodriguez added.
The bullet was not removed from the cat but Rodriguez said she was referred to a neurologist to see if anything further can be done.
A GoFundMe account set up to help the family with ongoing veterinarian bills and specialty appointments has raised $10,100 as of Friday morning.
Rodriguez is offering a $500 cash reward to anyone who can help identify the shooter.
The woman lives north of Barlina Road and Huntley Road in Crystal Lake.
She said the townhomes west of Bard Road and Huntley Road are behind her home and she suspects the incident occurred near there.
A police report was filed with the Crystal Lake Police Department, which is investigating.
Rodriguez said she has asked neighbors on her block for surveillance footage but none of them have cameras.
“We have a specific time frame and also know the exact direction he went so we have that on our side,” she said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Crystal Lake Police Department at 815-356-3620 and reference report #24-022644.
Rodriguez created an Instagram page called “Timmy_TheInvincibleCat” for updates on Timmy.