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The MSPCA’s Law Enforcement department now believes that what happened to Gosha may not have been an isolated incident.
The MSPCA-Angell’s Law Enforcement and the City of Cambridge Police departments, alongside the Cambridge Animal Control division, are seeking help from the public to identify whomever is responsible for binding and shooting a young male cat found dead near the intersection of Hurley and Sciarappa Streets in Cambridge, Mass. at approximately 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 6.
Cambridge’s Animal Control Officer responded to a call about a cat crying underneath a car and discovered that the cat, whose hind legs were bound with masking tape, had already died. The Animal Control Officer brought the cat to Angell Animal Medical Center in Jamaica Plain, where Pathologist Pam Mouser performed a necropsy.
What Dr. Mouser found was shocking.
A large percentage of the cat’s fur was missing, and the animal suffered multiple BB gunshot wounds across its face and body. Preliminary findings indicate that the cat died when one of the BBs punctured its lung. Eleven BBs were removed from its body.
“This case is a particularly disturbing as the cat was not only shot numerous times, but was also purposefully bound with tape and ultimately left to die from his injuries,” said Dr. Mouser.
Owner: “Gosha” Disappeared from Front of Home
On the morning of Tuesday, May 4, “Gosha” disappeared from in front of his Cambridge home. His owner, Francisco Rosales, sensed that something was wrong, and he and his wife immediately began posting flyers around their East Cambridge neighborhood in hopes that someone might spot Gosha.
“We’re devastated, and we cannot believe that something like this could happen to our cat, and our fear is that whoever killed Gosha could do this to someone else’s pet,” said Rosales. “We urge anyone who may have information about who did this to please call the investigators.”
$2,500 Reward for Information Leading to Conviction
The cat is described as mostly black and shorthaired, with patches of white on its face, neck and paws. The cat weighed 12.3 lbs. Anyone with information is urged to call the MSPCA’s Law Enforcement phone number at 800-628-5808 or the Cambridge Police Dept. at 617-349-3300.
The MSPCA is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to an animal cruelty conviction. Animal cruelty is a felony crime in Massachusetts, punishable by up to seven years in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000.
The Cambridge Animal Commission encourages any cat owners in the area to keep their cats indoors. As a reminder, if your pet is lost, please call the Cambridge Animal Commission immediately at 617-349-4376. If you get a voicemail, please still leave your name, phone number, address and description of your pet. They will return your call as soon as possible. If this occurs during off-hours/holidays, please call the Cambridge Police at 617-349-3300.
