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\u201cAt first, in the low light, I thought he had mud or dirt on his face. I bent down and picked him up, and he leaned back in my arms and started purring. His tail was gently waving.<\/p>\n
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\u201cOnce upstairs, I saw there was blood on his face and legs, and Clyde\u2019s mouth was bloodied, and it looked like part of his lower jaw was torn. It was incredibly confronting.\u201d<\/p>\n
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She wrapped Clyde in a towel and held him in her arms until the vet clinic opened.<\/p>\n
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\u201cClyde was quite relaxed and didn\u2019t appear to be in pain.\u201d<\/p>\n
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At Koru Vets, Clyde was immediately given pain relief and antibiotics.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe vet told me he thought Clyde might have been hit by a car.\u201d<\/p>\n
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This prompted Liddle Crawford to wonder what else may have caused Clyde\u2019s injuries, and she remembered a threatening note that had been left in mailboxes around her neighbourhood in 2024.<\/p>\n
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The typed note stated: \u201cIf you own a white and\/or black fluffy cat, please get it\/them a litterbox, because if it\/they poo on my lawn one more time, I will poison it\/them.\u201d<\/p>\n
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She said police described the note at the time as a \u201cthreat to harm offence\u201d, but no one was identified.<\/p>\n
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A\u00a0threatening note was left in Rosalie Liddle Crawford’s mailbox in October 2024.<\/p>\n
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On Tuesday morning, Liddle Crawford was \u201cshocked\u201d when the vet rang her telling her the X-rays showed Clyde had been shot with a gun, and had described the shooting as an act of animal cruelty.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIncredibly, the bullet missed his vital organs but blew away part of his jaw on the right-hand side, and tore through his tongue.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Clyde underwent extensive surgery on Tuesday, and the vet removed multiple pieces of shrapnel and part of his lower jaw, teeth and bone and repaired the injured tongue.<\/p>\n
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Clyde, a three-year-old black and white rag doll, was shot with a gun near his Mount Maunganui home between 6 pm on May 11 and 6am on May 12. Photo \/ Rosalie Liddle Crawford<\/p>\n
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Liddle Crawford said learning what caused Clyde\u2019s injuries was hard to process. She felt numb, but her main concern was for Clyde.<\/p>\n
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She said police were investigating the shooting and keeping in regular contact with her.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe most distressing part of this is not knowing why someone would do this. I don\u2019t feel anger or resentment towards them, but I\u2019m deeply concerned and disturbed.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIf they had an issue with a cat on their property, they chose the worst possible way to deal with it. \u201d<\/p>\n
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She said the possibility that the threatening note and shooting were connected was frightening.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIf it\u2019s the same person, it\u2019s incredibly dangerous and cruel. Someone could very easily have been killed.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI hope the police catch whoever did this quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Sushi saying goodbye to Clyde, a ragdoll cat shot by a firearm, and euthanised at Koru Vets on May 14. Photo \/ Rosalie Liddle Crawford.<\/p>\n
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Liddle Crawford said despite the veterinary team\u2019s exhaustive efforts, Clyde had to be put to sleep on Thursday.<\/p>\n
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\u201cSaying goodbye to him was heartbreaking and incredibly sad. Taking Sushi in to see her brother and watching the vet give Clyde that final injection was devastating.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The veterinarian who treated Clyde, who asked not to be named, said this was \u201cone of the worst injuries\u201d she had seen in her career since graduating in 2017.<\/p>\n
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The vet said she and her colleagues were shocked that Clyde survived the shooting.<\/p>\n
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She said the bullet caused \u201ccatastrophic damage\u201d to Clyde\u2019s lower jaw, tongue, and part of his upper jaw.<\/p>\n
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\u201cClyde underwent intensive treatment and major reconstructive surgery, including removing one side of his lower jaw and repairing injuries to his tongue.<\/p>\n
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\u201cTragically, over the following days, it was clear that the injuries to his tongue and surrounding tissues were too severe to heal. The blood supply to the tongue was irreparably damaged, causing tissue death.\u201d<\/p>\n
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An X-ray showing catastrophic damage and shrapnel embedded in Clyde’s facial soft tissues after being shot in Mount Maunganui. Photo \/ Koru Vets<\/p>\n
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This meant Clyde\u2019s injuries were too great, so the decision was made to euthanise him.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis case is deeply upsetting for everyone involved.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s also quite frightening that someone could do this to an animal and sleep at night.\u201d<\/p>\n
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SPCA inspectorate regional manager Jason Blair said the organisation was not aware of any recent incidents involving cats being shot in Mount Maunganui or other parts of Tauranga.<\/p>\n
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He said these offences were \u201ctreated seriously\u201d, and maximum penalties included up to five years\u2019 prison or a $100,000 fine.<\/p>\n
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Tauranga police\u00a0Sergeant James Crean said \u201cmultiple lines\u201d of inquiry were being explored, including looking into any available evidence or people who may be connected.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe have conducted a scene examination, had discussions with residents, and reviewed some CCTV footage.\u201c<\/p>\n
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He said police wanted to hear from anyone who may have relevant information or security camera footage.<\/p>\n
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He was not aware of any other related reports.<\/p>\n
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Crean asked anyone with information to get in touch by calling 105, quoting reference number 260513\/6073.<\/p>\n
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