Justice · Animal crueltyWest Deptford cat shootings: Two cats home with permanent injuriesAired October 25, 2026 at 10:21 PM UTCWritten October 25, 2026 at 10:29 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Bass lost his front left leg and Buttons lost an eye.0:10Both cats needed emergency surgery after suspected shootings in West Depford, New0:13Jersey.0:14They're home now, facing permanent injuries.0:16Police still haven't said whether the two incidents are connected.0:19Police place one incident near Ford and May Avenues and the other near Crown Point0:23Road and Church Street.0:24Both areas are in West Depford.0:26Buttons received care in Cherry Hill at Epic Vet Urgent Care.0:30Bass came home limping with just a little blood on his leg.0:33His owner, Margie Green, initially thought he'd fought with another animal.0:37Green said Bass usually spends time in her fenced and backyard.0:40He escaped Wednesday and returned hours later with the injury.0:43She took him for urgent veterinary care.0:45Green said X rays showed that the bone was shattered, with small pieces of metal0:49embedded in it.0:50The injury was far more serious than she'd first thought, and surgeons couldn't save0:54the leg.0:54Buttons arrived at Epic Vet Urgent Care at less than forty, eight hours after the0:59first case came in for care.1:00Veterinarian Emily Volk said Buttons's face was nearly destroyed.1:03The cat had a gunshot wound to an eye and needed emergency surgery.1:07Bast is now learning to move on three legs after losing his front left leg.1:10Buttons lost one eye.1:12Both cats have returned home after treatment, and both will live with the permanent1:15effects of those injuries.1:16Volk was concerned that two cats from the same community had come in with gunshot1:20injuries so close together.1:22She contacted West Stepford police.1:24Investigators are examining two separate incidents.1:26The cat's injuries and the nearby locations give police reasons to investigate a1:30possible connection.1:31But police haven't publicly linked the cases.1:34Police say the injuries are consistent with a small caliber firearm or a pellet gun.1:38They haven't identified the weapon.1:40Police also haven't said who shot the cats or whether the incidents are connected.1:43Green has already changed how she looks after her animals.1:46She's no longer letting her pets outside unsupervised.1:49Just the idea that someone would choose to harm an animal is just unsettling, she1:53said.1:53She hopes whoever is responsible is caught quickly.1:56For her, Bast is a family member, and she wants whoever hurt him to understand that.2:00West Stepford police say they're taking the investigation seriously and are asking2:04for information.2:05They've published a telephone number and an email address for Detective Goggin as2:09ways to reach investigators.2:11Volk expects both cats to need a few weeks to heal and adjust, and says they should2:15make a full recovery.2:16Bast's missing leg and Buttons's lost eye are permanent.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗
