ANTIOCH, Tenn. (WTVF) — An Antioch pet owner is taking time to warn others after her cat was shot in the eye with BB gun. This just as President Trump passed a new bill making animal abuse a federal crime.
Unfortunately, veterinarians say it happens a lot more than you would think.
One-year-old Oliver was shot in the right eye Monday night. Oliver's owner, Ashley Weber, says she found him around midnight, writhing in pain.
"He is feisty and tough, and this shows how tough he is," said Weber, "when this happen I found him on the couch... he came home on his own."
Weber says Oliver was wandering around Packard Drive. She never thought something like this would happen to him. Why and how it happened is still a mystery.
"Never in a million years thought anyone would do this to my cat," said Weber.
But Oliver’s veterinarian says it happens far too often.
"We take a lot of X-rays and common to see pellets in the animal," said Dr. Catrina Herd, owner of Animal House Vet Clinic.
Just last month, President Donald Trump signed a law to make animal cruelty a federal crime. Dr. Herd says she hopes this will deter people from committing these heinous crimes.
As for Oliver, he may have lost an eye, but thankfully he still has plenty of “lives” ahead of him. Dr. Herd says he should be able to make a full recovery after the surgery.
His surgery isn't cheap, costing the owner $1,500. She was able to get a donation with the help from Paws Angels Dog Rescue. If you would like to help with Oliver's surgery, consider donating to the nonprofit.
