$5,000 reward offered in blow dart cat case

COEUR d'ALENE — Finding the suspect who struck Red the cat in the face with a 4.5-inch blow dart just became more lucrative.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

Red, an 11-year-old tabby short-hair mix owned by Carson Kelley and his girlfriend, Katelyn Halpin, was shot near an eye on May 12 near Bryan Elementary in Coeur d'Alene. The cat amazingly survived as the dart just missed its brain.

"This cat narrowly escaped with his life after suffering the agony of having a thick, 4-inch dart shot into his head," said PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange. "PETA is urging anyone with information about his attacker to come forward immediately, before this culprit hurts anyone else."

Red was rushed to a veterinarian and is recovering at home from his injury.

Neighbors have reported seeing blow darts lying around as well as stuck in trees and car tires in the neighborhood of North Eighth Street and East Birch Avenue.

Coeur d'Alene Police Detective Jared Reneau said police haven't received any leads on a suspect, but are hoping the reward brings some forward.

"It's a case we're taking very seriously," Reneau said.

Halpin said it is believed Red was shot between 2 and 5 p.m. A roommate of hers discovered the cone end of the blow dart coming out of its head next to its eye.

PETA — the motto of which reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to abuse in any way" — urges families to keep their animal companions safely indoors and never leave them unattended outdoors, where they may be stolen, attacked by other animals or hurt by cruel people.

Those with information on the case are urged to contact Coeur d'Alene Police at 769-2320.