Canoe residents are spreading the word and the RCMP is suggesting residents contact them if their cat goes missing, is injured or is found dead.
The word is being spread after Madelaine Lawson found her cat Timmy in severe distress on Friday, March 28. Shortly thereafter the cat died and poison is the suspected cause of death.
“He was foaming at the mouth, slamming up against the wall. It was a horrible death,” she says “We didn’t do an autopsy because it was so expensive, but from what we described to the vet, poisoning was suspected.”
Following the loss, Lawson began to hear more anecdotal stories from other Canoe residents who had cats go missing, some were injured by BB guns, while others appeared to have been poisoned.
“There just seems to be too many to chalk it up to coincidence,” she said.
Rhiannon Schmidt is another Canoe resident who had a cat go missing. Her Balinese, Wolfgang, a long-haired breed, was never found despite an extensive two-month search that started last July.
Two days before the cat went missing, he showed up with an injury to his head that vets thought might have been caused by a BB.
“I know there are plenty of reasons he could have gone missing and never came back, he could have been hit by a car or someone could have just taken him. He was a gorgeous, friendly cat. But after hearing so many stories from other residents, and knowing he liked to stay close to home, I suspect foul play of some sort,” she said. “I think it is a good idea for people to be aware, so they can be mindful.”
Lawson has posted a warning on Facebook and at the Canoe post office cautioning residents to take extra care with their felines. She also made a report to the Salmon Arm RCMP.
“They were very good. They took down all my information and really encouraged me to tell others that, if they have a similar situation, to call because that is the only way they can see any type of pattern. The officer told me they take this kind of thing seriously.”
RCMP say shooting a domestic pet with a BB gun is a violation of section 446 of the Criminal Code.