Cat Paralyzed After Being Shot In Glen Cove: Police

GLEN COVE, NY — Authorities in Glen Cove are searching for a shooter they say opened fire on a pet cat.

A woman told Glen Cove police that she heard an animal crying in pain outside her Taft Place home around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. When she went to investigate, she found a small cat in her neighbor's yard, dragging her hind legs.

Police say she immediately notified her neighbor — a veterinarian — who brought the cat to her practice for treatment. That's when she discovered that the cat was paralyzed after being shot twice.

The cat had a microchip and the vet notified the owners, DJ and Christina Hunnicutt, of Sherwood Road. They told police that their 5-year-old cat, Gracie, is very friendly to everyone in the neighborhood, and would follow them whenever they took their dog out for a walk.

Gracie is set to have surgery on Thursday.

"Gracie's owners have agreed to pay a mounting vet bill to try to keep Gracie alive," police said in a statement. "The owners are hoping that Gracie will survive the operation and will be able to walk again."

Gracie's family has already set up a GoFundMe page to pay for medical expenses. As of 12 p.m. Thursday, the campaign has raised $6,757 of its $8,980 goal.

Police believe the shooting most likely took place on Taft Place or Sherwood Road between 7 p.m. and 7:20 p.m. Anyone with additional information is asked to call authorities at 516-676-1002 or submit a tip to tips@glencovepd.org.