No one knows from where the little calico cat came; however, many people know her sad tale of cruelty and the lifetime of blindness she will now endure.
Grace was found bound by rope, covered in blood, stuffed into a cooler and left for dead in a field near Christiansburg, Virginia. Based on the fact that Grace was found bound in rope, it is likely that she was tied so that she could not escape while her tormentor took his time mutilating her as she screamed in agony and struggled against her bindings.
Examination by a veterinary ophthalmologist at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine confirmed that Grace�s eyes were destroyed by shots from a BB gun. After two surgeries, the second to remove both her eyes, and a long recovery, Grace has found a loving home where she will be safe and secure for the remainder of her days.
Law enforcement officers, humane organizations and private citizens are pursuing an intensive investigation to identify and prosecute the severely disturbed perpetrator of this crime. It is imperative that he be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Statistics on this type of crime are clear. The perpetrator's cruel actions will continue and will escalate until many animals have suffered at his hands and humans become his target.
Using profiling techniques similar to those used by the FBI, in all likelihood, Grace�s mutilator is a male somewhere between the ages of 15 and 25; however, because a BB gun was used, he is probably in his teens to early 20�s. He has a history of tormenting animals and has probably bragged about his crimes to his peers. He may be an animal "collector", on the surface taking in strays or adopting give-always and yet ignores and neglects them at home until he becomes agitated at which time he takes his frustrations out on them.
Neighbors and family may have noticed that his pets tend to disappear and it�s doubtful that he keeps any animal for a long period. If he drives, he may have a tendency not to avoid animals on the road rather attempting to run over them instead. His parents may be excusing his tendencies towards animal cruelty as childhood pranks, and he probably has a long history of shooting birds and squirrels with his BB gun. He probably did not do well in school and may be a dropout.
His neighbors may have unexplained missing pets. People who are in tune with animals� reactions may notice that animals in his presence are nervous and shy away from him even though he makes a concerted effort to befriend them.
Someone knows who he is and it�s likely that Grace belonged to someone he knows, perhaps a girlfriend or female associate who turned down his advances or spurned him in some way. Those who know or suspect who he is may be afraid to come forward for fear of retaliation.
The Montgomery County Sheriff�s Department is continuing to investigate this case, and it is critical that the perpetrator be caught; not only for the sake of others like Grace, but also for the community�s safety. This perpetrator will not stop on his own. It will take conviction and incarceration and long-term counseling before he is no longer a threat.
Grace is doing well, and been adopted by the person who found her. VA Paws doesn't need donations for Grace herself now, but they have other abuse cases and would love to have them for their general cruelty fund--to cover vet expenses, do education and publicity.
VA PAWS
PO Box 172
Christiansburg, VA 24068-0172
To personally contact a VA PAWS member concerning Grace, please contact either:
Lila Wills by email at [email protected] or by phone at (540) 651-4530
Or
Christy Smith by email at [email protected] or by phone at (540) 674-0670 |
