Teens suspected in cat torture

TAMPA - Investigators say they are getting closer to finding whoever tortured a cat, then threw it into Mc Kay Bay.

The cat was put into a carrier, shot 30 times with some sort of pellet gun, then left on the shore of the Bay. When high tide came in, it would have died a slow death by drowning.

"I can't fathom how anyone could do that to an animal," said Dr. Jessica Stine.

Stine is a veterinarian at Florida Veterinary Services in Brandon, where the cat is recovering. On Friday, she was still on pain medication and antibiotics. An IV was strapped to one of her front legs.

Investigators suspect that teens may be to blame.

"It appears that one of the people who might have been involved is a female, because the name Missy was written on the carrier as being the 'jailer,'" said Dennis Mc Cullough of Hillsborough County Animal Services.

Someone wrote a second name next to the word "warden," then scratched it out. The carrier also has other unsettling phrases like "Inmate Mittens," and "Kitty Penitentiary" written in magic marker on it.

Employees at Florida Veterinary Services named the cat 'Lovie,' because despite what she has been through, she has been friendly and affectionate with them.

One of the employees will provide foster care for 'Lovie,' and will probably adopt her.

Reward money to find the cat's "jailer" and or "warden" keeps coming in. The latest donation was from PETA, which is offering $2,000.

Anyone who has information about the cat, or who wants to make a donation for her care or reward money, should call Hillsborough County Animal Services at (813) 744-5660.