Abused Cat, Anxious Neighbors Get Help
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Abused Animals
A neighborhood is anxious after several cases of animal abuse.
NBC 4
A local company donates cash for a surgery and pet food after several pets in a West Side neighborhood were abused or killed.
COLUMBUS, Ohio—A local company has donated cash and pet food after several pets in a West Side neighborhood were abused or fatally poisoned.
NBC 4 reported with an update Sunday.
A couple’s dog was fatally poisoned, and a veterinarian said someone either kicked their 3-year-old cat or grabbed him by his hind leg and threw him against a wall.
Rambo has a chipped tooth and his leg was shattered in three places.
Rambo’s owner, Mike Humes, said his cat is one tough kitty.
“They think someone kicked him or possibly picked him up by the leg and swung him around and bashed him into something,” he said. “His leg has been shattered in three places from blunt-force trauma, and one of his teeth are chipped out,” Humes said.
The Humes’ 10-year-old family dog, Boss, was poisoned before Rambo was hurt. Boss had to be put to sleep.
A neighbor’s two dogs also were fatally poisoned.
Dave Raponi of Wow Internet & Cable saw Rambo’s story on air and wanted to help.
Wow Internet & Cable has donated $1,000 for Rambo’s surgery and delivered a truckload of pet food to the neighborhood.
“My wife and I are very involved in animal rescue and animals in general. It’s kind of a heartbreaking story, and we thought we needed to do something to help this family out and help Rambo out,” Raponi said.
“It’s overwhelming to know that there’s this much support in the community over such a short period of time,” Humes said.
As soon as the Humes have the full $2,500 for Rambo’s surgery, the procedure will be performed and the cast will come off.
In the meantime, neighbors hoped the responsible person is found and arrested.
Hume said he thinks he knows who is responsible and he said he hopes it’s just a matter of time before they are caught.
“I don’t understand. You’re taking my kids’ pets away, and I don’t have the money to keep going to the vet once a week. It’s just ridiculous,”
“It’s bad enough what happened to the animals, but we all have kids. We’re afraid that it could escalate into something else,” concerned neighbor Jack Downs said.
Downs is accepting donations for Rambo. Those who would like to donate money for Rambo’s surgery can call Downs at 614-218-5045.
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Reader Reactions
Rambo is doing well! He did have his first surgery 7/15/09.Dr.Dyce at OSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital was able to save Rambo’s leg.Rambo now has an external fixator on his leg.He has to have another surgery to remove it in 6 to 7 weeks.He will need many follow up visits.If anyone would like to help,contact any Huntington Bank and ask to contribute to the Rambo fund.Hopefully NBC4 will do a follow up story.Thankyou for all your kindness!
The Humes Family
I haven’t seen anything else about Rambo - did they get enough money for the surgery or will the vet take the money they have? Is he going to get the surgery? Could you do a story on this - I personally would like to hear what’s going on with him.
Thank you.
Rambo is such a wonderful cat it is so hard to believe that someone could do such an awful thing to him. It has been a pleasure getting to know Rambo and his neighbors. Thanks to NBC and Mindy Drayer for bringing the plight of abused animals to peoples attention. There needs to be tougher laws for abusers.
dave
This really makes me sick. If you did this to a person, you would be in serious trouble and be going to prison for a while…why do animals not get that same protection from the law? If you are the kind of sicko to harm a defenseless animal you should be locked away. If you flung a person against a wall it would be felonious assault, poisoning would be murder. I’m with chrstphr1961, if I caught someone doing this to my pet, I would be in jail
UPDATE: Neighbor Jack Downs is accepting donations for Rambo. Those who would like to donate money for Rambo’s surgery can call Downs at 614-218-5045.
Chrstphr1961, no worries, if I’m on your jury then you’ll walk.
I agree we need stiffer penalties. I hope channel 4 will post the name and address of the vet or bank where donations can be made to help Rambo out. In the meantime, maybe Rambo should be an indoor kitty so the mean people don’t get him again.
Donna - thank you!!! I hope others will help out if they can.
I really think we need to be writing to our state legislators and demanding stiffer penalties for those who commit these kind of crimes. Although if I ever caught someone doing something like this to one of my pets, I am pretty sure I’d be the one who ended up behind bars.
Nanci:
Yes, I am aware people would like to help with Rambo’s fund-raising. I have a call in to Mindy Drayer to get the information. Please hold tight.
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