SPECIAL TO THE REPORTER

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is offering rewards of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for two recent cases of animal cruelty in Shelby County.

At this time, local authorities have not confirmed that the cases are related.

The first case occurred two weeks ago when the Calera Police Department received a report of a loose yellow, male tabby cat that appeared to have been shot with an arrow.

The cat was captured with a crossbow arrow lodged in its body and died of internal bleeding shortly thereafter.

Investigators believe that the cat may have been shot around Halloween night or Nov. 1.

The angle of the arrow in the cat’s body leads investigators to believe that the perpetrator may have shot the cat from a window or a porch.

In a case that may be related, a cow was shot with an arrow on a farm in Shelby County just outside of Wilton.

In addition, according to Shelby County Animal Control Officer Donald Kendrick, authorities are also investigating two additional, unconfirmed reports of cows shot with arrows.

Those with information regarding the fatal cat shooting are asked to call Calera Police Officer Angela Velarde at 668-3505.

Those with information regarding the cow shootings are asked to call Shelby County Animal Control Officer Donald Kendrick at 669-8766