Courtesy: Lee County Sheriff's Office
VILLAS, Fla. - A Florida man was arrested after Lee County deputies say he shot a cat with a BB gun, leaving the animal with a fractured leg.
Florida animal cruelty arrest
The backstory:
The Lee County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded over the weekend to Mesa Drive near Fort Myers after receiving a report that a man had shot a cat.
Courtesy: Lee County Sheriff's Office
Deputies located the suspect, identified as Nicholas Laney, 42, on the front porch of his home, according to the sheriff's office.
The injured cat was taken to BluePearl Pet Hospital for treatment, LCSO said.
Cat suffers fractured leg
Dig deeper:
Veterinarians found that the cat had suffered a fractured leg from a gunshot wound, according to LCSO.
Detectives obtained a search warrant at Laney's home.
During the search, investigators found the BB gun outside the home inside an open shed, according to the sheriff's office.
Courtesy: Lee County Sheriff's Office
Detectives arrested Laney on a charge of aggravated animal cruelty.
Sheriff warns against animal cruelty
What they're saying:
"I will not tolerate anyone who hurts an animal in Lee County," Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said. "If you harm or kill an animal, our deputies, precinct detectives, and Animal Cruelty Task Force will be out in full force — ensuring you are charged to the fullest extent of the law. Due to the quick actions of the witness in this case, we were able to get the cat the medical attention it needs and the abuser behind bars. I can't stress this enough: if you see it, say it, make the call."
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Lee County Sheriff's Office.