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Cat injured in shooting
Originally published 12:00 p.m., June 13, 2008
Updated 04:47 p.m., June 13, 2008
A Fergus Falls woman is offering a cash reward with the hope she can find who shot the family cat.
Karen Trosdahl was shocked Tuesday evening when her cat Tiggers came to the door of her home at 1226 N Marien St. in Fergus Falls.
The cat had been missing for about an hour, scared off from the Trosdahl yard by the thunder and lighting of a rain storm.
But it was the cries of poor Tiggers that scared the Trosdahls and their foster children.
Tiggers was meowing and dragging her front leg.
“I let her in, and she was just in pain,” Trosdahl said. “The cat was just screaming and it had a bone poking out of it’s shoulder.”
Trosdahl thought Tiggers had been injured falling from a tree.
But that theory changed after Trosdahl met Dr. David Nelson of the Companion Pet Hospital at about 10:30 p.m. that evening.
“The doctor said Tiggers’ leg was shattered and there were two options for Tiggers: euthanize her or cut the leg off,” Trosdahl said.
The next morning Tiggers’ leg was X-rayed. The results showed that Tiggers had been shot and its leg was full of BBs,” Trosdahl said.
Trosdahl says she pleaded with the veterinarian to try and save Tiggers’ leg.
The pet hospital called the next morning to say that the leg was saved during surgery.
But Tiggers was facing a long and painful recovery because the leg was pinned and wired back together, Trosdahl said.
The episode has also been hard on Trosdahl’s foster children, who raised the cat since it arrived on the family’s doorstep as a stray about two years ago.
“I’ve never was a cat lover, but two years ago it came to us in a rainstorm — just like the day it was injured,” Trosdahl said.
“It was a wild cat, and scared of people, but everyday the kids put out food and it came closer and closer to us,” she said.
After six weeks of working with the cat it seemed tamed and joined the Trosdahl family.
“I always say people don’t choose cats, cats choose people,” Trosdahl said.
“This has been so hard on the kids after investing all that time into taming her. To see her come home so beat up from the shooting after being shot has made this a terrible week for our family,” Now Trosdahl is offering a $100 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect in Tiggers’ shooting, Trosdahl said.
“People need to know that shooting animals is a form of animal cruelty and won’t be tolerated in our community,” Trosdahl said.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by Granny (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
U go Karen.
No excuse for injuring defenseless animals!!!!!!!!!!!!
vfs
Posted by JL (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is terrible! The same thing happen to my family only it was our dog. Someone shot out dog on our property with a shot gun. Unfortunately he couldn't be saved. People like this make me sick. Joke or not this is not anything funny, people's pets become a big part of the family and for someone to shot them is like someone shooting a family member. I hope they are caught and charged with the vet bill as well.
Posted by koolmama42 (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
On the behalf of the Foster Children @ the Trosdahl residence. The following comments are being placed on "Tiggers"{the cat that was shot} behalf. Because "Tiggers" was very much a comfort to them so many times. Whether it was them having a "bad day", or "feeling sad", or just to hold as a "comfort". Here are the comments from the Foster children who chose to respond.
#1. "I don't know how anyone could shoot an animal"
#2. "I hope that the Law will catch the Person or people that shot a defensless cat"..especially "Tigers". "Please turn yourself in".
#3. "I don't like anybody who is mean to animals", "especially cats". "I am big animal lover".
#4. "Why would anyone shoot a cat"?.
Posted by gill (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is terrible; however cat owners should not let their cats roam free! You say the thunder and lightning scared the cat away, however how did it get outside, why didn't you go looking for it? I don't understand why SOME cat owners believe their pets are neighborhood pets. I feel horrible for the kids but Karen as a pet owner you have a responsibility for "Tiggers" and it seems that you could have prevented this terrible act, by controlling you pet.
Posted by bucksteel (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe it got shot by a tweety-bird in self-defense.
Posted by Granny (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Karen is a responsible pet owner! Have u ever opened a door to go in or out and have your pet scoot out?????
You can look for a cat for hours and unless they want to be found u won't find them. It can't be so awful for the cat when it was hurt where did it go back home to Karen and the kids come on folks lay off on the blaming.
Posted by MustBeNice (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sorry but I have side with 'Gill'. Just like our children, pets too are our responsibility. The city also has ordinances that state pets must be leashed when out doors.
However, I am sorry someone performed this violent act toward an animal and "loved family member". They should pay the consequences. Note: I to have children and pets I am responsible for.
Posted by andtongs (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
People should not shoot cats, but cat owners should keep their cats indoors. Every evening two family pet cats wander into my back yard to kill what ever they can catch. Some body else's yard is not your pets personal kingdom. If I had a BB gun I would shoot them, if you don't want me to shoot your cat keep it at home.
Posted by skeptik (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a responsible pet owner, I agree that there are too many people letting their pets run free, but shooting someone's pet is without a doubt a senseless act. Due to my own neighbors and their seemingly countless outdoor cats, my yard is a giant litter box, and you will never see a chipmunk or squirrel in my neighborhood.
And to Mr. Hage ... don't you think providing an area or neighborhood would have been informative to those wanting to help, or in locating possible witnesses?
Posted by bucksteel (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Look in the phone book skeptik.
Posted by skeptik (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My obvious point, bucksteel, was that the DJ published a story about a reward for information on solving a crime in a certain neighborhood. Not mentioning the area, therefore causing the reader further legwork is, in my opinion, sub-par reporting.
Posted by skeptik (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
See, bucksteel? If my comment was so invalid, why would the DJ add the info in question?
Posted by BaddaBing (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 7 p.m. (Suggest removal)
andtongs,
Aren't you the Bible-thumper always preaching about this and that? You sure look like a hypocrite with your very unchristian
attitude concerning someone's pet. Maybe you should go back to the Scriptures and learn to practice what you preach.
Posted by blacktiger (anonymous) on June 13, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The way I look at it. The way some people hurt animals like that shoul be treated like that too. Couple of years ago when myself and chilren lived on that same street a couple of doors down. When my chidren went out to play. Our cat went out to and at times cats can be sneecky and do that. When she came back, someone posin her. I had to put our cat down, and the cat was my chrildens first cat.I see it more often that people do stuff like that to peoples pets.
Posted by enjoy12 (anonymous) on June 14, 2008 at 1:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cat's get out, especially if you have a big family like the Trosdahls obviously have. I think it is awful and I hope the ones that shot the cat are caught.
Posted by bucksteel (anonymous) on June 14, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
skeptik - I never said your point was invalid - in fact, I think it was a great idea. My point was just to help others find the address, not knowing that the story would be updated.
Posted by justgettingby (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow...since when is it leagal to use a shotgun in city limits??? What's next children who run thru yards...You have got to be kidding me?? Listen up narrow-minded people your day will come at the gates of St Peter. I truely hope Tigger makes a complete recovery ! Bless all who have a heart.
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