Cat Dies After Being Hit With a Blow Dart in Ames (Caution: Graphic Photo)

An Ames house cat was shot with a blow dart and died Tuesday, and his owner hopes to find who was responsible.

Ron Carson posted a photo of his dead cat to Facebook Wednesday hoping that someone would come forward with information. The photograph shows a small orange blow dart sticking out of the 8-year-old cat's chest.

“It's disturbing to think that someone would do that,” Carson said.

Carson said that he last saw Star about 1 p.m. Tuesday when he left for work. Star, an indoor/outdoor cat, had a tendency to roam on nice days, he said. When Carson came home about 8 p.m. Tuesday his neighbors were rushing his cat to the Iowa State University veterinarian clinic, but it was too late.

Valerie Stallbaumer, Carson's neighbor, said the veterinarians there said the animal's heart had stopped.

Stallbaumer was returning home from a walk, when she noticed the cat struggling to walk in Carson's driveway. She picked it up and saw the orange tag sticking out of the cat's chest, but didn't realize what it was. Another neighbor rushed Stallbaumer and Star to the veterinarian school.

Carson said his cat would roam long distances, but he believes his cat was probably shot somewhere near home on 9^th Street and Caroll Avenue.

Carson reported the incident to police and Ames Animal Control is now investigating.

Lorna Lavender,  Supervisor, said they have not yet determined whether the cat died from the dart alone.

Stallbaumer said the cat didn't appear to have any other injuries.

Three squirrels were killed or had to be put to sleep after being hit with blow darts last summer, Lavender said. Those incidents took place about a mile from where Star lived, she said.

Lavender said officers will canvass the area looking for anyone who owns or operates a blow gun.

Anyone with information should call animal control at 515-231-1080 or the police at 515-239-5133.

“It's too late for my cat, but my hope is that the guilty party will be found and charged,” Carson said.

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