Someone shot a Bonney Lake family’s cat in their backyard. An investigation is underway
Marci Rowse and her family had to euthanize their 7-year-old cat after he was shot in their Bonney Lake neighborhood.
Police recently announced on Facebook that on Jan. 20, someone got into the Rowse’s backyard, shot the cat and fled with a plastic bag in hand.
“It breaks my heart,” Rowse said. The cat, Sombra, was seriously injured.
Rowse said Sombra was outside in their backyard in Springhaven exploring for a few hours. She looked outside, figuring it was time for him to come back inside and saw a wobbling, bleeding cat crying out.
It was very graphic, the mother of two said.
She rushed him to the vet. Initially, the veterinarian said it seemed he had been run over by a car, but X-rays showed pellets or bullets. His jaw was broken.
Rowse said there was no guarantee that surgery would give him a quality life, so the family decided to put Sombra down.
Sombra, Spanish for shadow, was adopted by the Rowses seven years ago as a 6-month old kitten. She described him as a dog in a cat’s body because he was so loving and friendly. People often commented on his silky, black coat. He would stroll over to the neighbors for a pet.
“It was shocking that someone would hurt him like that,” Rowse said. “It doesn’t make sense to us.”
Rowse’s two daughters, 4 and 2, were close to the cat.
“We’ll really miss him so much,” she said. “The girls wanted to buy another Sombra, but I had to explain to them that’s not how it works.”
The family has a Ring doorbell, which captures footage and audio of nearby movement and plays on a phone app.
On the day of the shooting, the app recorded someone with a plastic bag and a red, compact car. Rowse said in the audio, a male voice is heard asking, “Is it still alive?” Another male voice started laughing and said, “Barely.”
Bonney Lake police have turned the case over to Sumner’s Metro Animal Control. Spokesperson Carmen Palmer said they have been unable to locate the car. Metro Animal Control has checked with neighbors, but so far no leads.
Rowse said neighbors are nervous to let their animals outside. She and her family want closure.
“This isn’t supposed to happen. Sombra is supposed to carry on and live alongside our daughters and create memories,” Rowse said. “That time was cut short, because someone came out there with a gun.”
How to help
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bonney Lake Police Department tip line at 253-447-3231 or email detective@cobl.us. Metro Animal Control can be reached at 253-299-7387, Ext. 3.
