Bounty to catch cat killer on target

The campaign was started by Jean Williams. Photo / Michael Cunningham

An online campaign raising money to catch a Whangarei cat killer looks likely to surpass its $2000 target.

The campaign was started by Jean Williams of the Cats to Stay Army in response to a series of cat killings in the city. The victims included Gingy, a cat belonging to the Quinn family of Maunu, shot with a slug gun on February 28.

Several other cat owners contacted the Northern Advocate to report shootings, including another Maunu cat which had to have a leg amputated and an Onerahi cat put down after a slug wedged in its spine.

As of noon yesterday the "Whangarei Cat Killer Reward" fund had reached $1493 but, with donations still coming in, Mrs Williams believed the online tally would reach the group's $2000 target by the time the appeal closed today. She had collected another $700 in cash donations ranging from $5 to $100.

Mrs Williams said the response to the appeal had been excellent.

"We've had donations from the US and the UK. I keep getting stopped in town by people saying, 'Good on you, I hope you catch these people'."

The money will be used as a reward for information leading to an arrest. Tips about the cat killer's identity should be passed to Whangarei police in person or by calling (09) 430 4500.

Mrs Williams said she would now arrange a leaflet drop in the Maunu area informing people of the reward.

A message on the Cats to Stay Army page reads: "There is a cat killer or killers in operation in the area of Whangarei, New Zealand. We are needing funding to reach a reward/bounty big enough so as that someone who knows the person/s who is shooting, killing and maiming these beautiful Cats will hand them over to the police for arrest, conviction and what we hope is imprisonment/incarceration."