Dear Editor:
Our cat Mojo went missing on December 28. He had lived in our neighborhood from birth, so we didn’t panic, though it was unlike him to be gone for more than a few hours. He was 7 years old and knew the area. We had built a containment system, knowing it was safer, but he couldn’t be contained.
After he had been missing for a day and a half, we began to really worry. We sent out texts to all of our neighbors and asked those on Facebook to post his picture and some brief details about him in the hopes that he might be found alive. However, we found him nearby, 75 feet from our property. He had been shot dead. We are still in shock. Mojo was a beloved family member and he is dearly missed.
We had never heard of anyone intentionally killing a pet in our neighborhood. We called the sheriff, as it’s a felony to kill domestic animals in Texas, whether feral or pet, and carries a penalty of two to 10 years in prison. This has been law since 2007. It’s a common myth that people can shoot anything on their property, but this isn’t so. For more details, statutes. capitol.texas.gov/ docs/PE/htm/PE.42. htm or search statutes Sec. 42.092., Cruelty To Nonlivestock Animals. We are expecting the sheriff will investigate this felony with the zeal that the charge requires. The state legislature deemed this a crime carrying the weight of a felony. We hope that the perpetrator will be brought to justice, quickly. The investigation is ongoing.
If you have information on this or any murder of domestic animals in Hays County, contact the Hays County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division at 512-393-7896. If you see someone killing domestic animals, call 911 immediately.
Christopher Biggins
Driftwood
