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Man arrested after shooting his neighbor’s cat with an arrow

A Galva, Illinois family is mourning the loss of their pet cat after discovering their neighbor shot it with an arrow on Saturday, September 20. The cat, Whiske...

A Galva, Illinois family is mourning the loss of their pet cat after discovering their neighbor shot it with an arrow on Saturday, September 20.

The cat, Whiskey, was found on the lawn down the street from his home with the arrow lodged deep in his pelvis. The vet said both of the cat's legs were paralyzed by the arrow, forcing him to later euthanize the cat.

On Monday, September 29, an anonymous tip led Galva police to arrest 35-year-old Duane VanDeSampel for aggravated cruelty to animals, a class four felony.

"This was a professional grade bow, it's something that exerts a lot of force and energy. It's not a $30 thing you buy your kids," said Galva Police Detective Ralph Brown. "This is an actual bow used and designed to kill deer and other game animal."

The family who owned the cat, Whiskey, said they were devastated by the news of their cat's death, and shocked to hear it was their neighbor who shot him.

"Not me, nor my husband, or my son were there to comfort [Whiskey] when he needed us the most because of that senseless act," said Jill Osborne, the cat's owner. "I want to know what got into his head that day to get a target arrow and put it through my cat."

VanDeSampel is being held on a $50,000 bond in the Henry County Jail.

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