MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A $25,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person who shot an arrow from a crossbow to kill a beloved Miami Beach cat.
According to the Facebook page "Justice for Strushie," the former owner of the Franklin Hotel is offering a $20,000 reward. The additional $5,000 were $3K from local animal organizations and $2K from Joe's Stone Crab's Stephen Sawitz.
Eleonora Todaro said she has been feeding and caring for the stray cat, known as Strushie, for years.
"He doesn't deserve to be a free person. He doesn't deserve it. He has to be punished," Todaro said about the person who killed the cat. "I don't know if he did it to hurt me or to hurt the cat. I hope to hurt me, because there's no reason to hurt the cat."
Strushie was described as a "local Miami Beach fixture," the page's creator wrote.
The cat was found Wednesday morning under a dumpster with an arrow lodged through his head.
Veterinarian Rachel Johnson said Strushie was brought to Alton Road Animal Hospital, but the cat's injuries were so severe, he had to be euthanized.
"We gave him pain medication, intravenously, right away, but again, by the time he arrived here, he was pretty unresponsive," Johnson said.
X-rays showed how the arrow penetrated Strushie’s mouth and skull.
Johnson voiced concern that whoever harmed Strushie could be a threat to the community.
"We are trying to involve authorities because we're concerned about dangers to people," Johnson said. "You know, people who are willing to do these kinds of things probably are dangerous, not only to the animals for suffering, but also to people."
Anyone with information about Strushie's killing is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.