Clyde (left) was euthanised at Koru Vets Mount Maunganui on May 14 after a goodbye from Sushi. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford
A $2000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the prosecution of the person who fatally shot a Mount Maunganui cat.
Rosalie Liddle Crawford, a Weekend Sun and Bay of Plenty Times reporter, earlier said her three-year-old ragdoll Clyde was shot in the face between 6pm on May 11 and 6am on May 12.
She found Clyde outside her front door about 6am on May 12 with blood on his face, legs and mouth, and part of his lower jaw was torn.
Clyde underwent extensive surgery, including removing bullet fragments, but his injuries were too severe and he was euthanised on May 14.
Police are investigating the incident, including whether there was a link to notes threatening to “poison” a fluffy black and white cat, which were left in mailboxes in Liddle Crawford’s neighbourhood in 2024.
PAW Justice founder Craig Dunn said the charity wanted to offer a $1000 reward for information leading to Clyde’s shooter being charged and convicted by the police.
Dunn said the charity had a fund for offering rewards in animal cruelty cases, such as Clyde’s shooting, which had been successful in the past.
“For a person to do this to an animal shows emotional rage and the start of a sociopathic behaviour, which could escalate if not caught and prosecuted.
“This is extreme animal cruelty, and the question is: What happens next when something or someone upsets or annoys this person?”
He said animal cruelty was rising in New Zealand and globally, with well-established links between cruelty to animals and escalating violence against humans.
PD Pet Insurance chief operating officer Michelle Le Long said she was “shocked and saddened” to learn of Clyde’s shooting and its impact on their customer, Liddle Crawford.
“We’re contributing $1000 toward the reward for information because we believe there has to be accountability.
“Animal cruelty of this nature doesn’t exist in isolation; it matters, and the community deserves to know that speaking up could make a real difference.”
Le Long said people’s pets were loved family members.
“At PD Insurance, everything we do is built around that belief. When we heard what happened to Clyde, we were absolutely sickened.”
Liddle Crawford said the reward offers were “fantastic” and hoped it “tipped the scales” in prompting people to contact the police about who killed Clyde.
She said the response to Clyde’s story had been “overwhelming and amazing”.
She said many people wanted to help with veterinary costs but these had been covered by her insurer.
Liddle Crawford has set up a Givealittle page in Clyde’s memory to raise funds for animal rescue organisation Rescue, Revive and Rehome (RRR) Bay of Plenty.
Any donations will be paid directly to the organisation’s bank account and used to help injured animals needing urgent vet treatment.
“I hope that something good can come from something so senseless and cruel.
“I also recognise from hundreds of people’s responses that this horrific act feels like a blemish or stain on our community. There is a lot of anger and outrage. But this is not who we are.
“We’re a community that cares for each other, for animals and our environment, and it feels like the universe has gone off kilter, and people want to do something to help restore that balance.”
RRR board member Liz Proudlock, who oversees the organisation’s feline division, said there was never any justification for inflicting pain and suffering on a defenceless animal.
“We feel honoured and privileged that Rosalie has chosen us as the recipients of the fund set up as Clyde’s legacy after such a tragic and horrific situation.”
She said while RRR worked tirelessly to save lives and rebuild trust in abused animals, no amount of care could undo “deliberate cruelty”.
“Our thoughts are with Rosalie, and we hope the person who chose to shoot Clyde is tracked down.”
Police urged anyone with information to call 105, quoting file number 260513/6073.
Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 25 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.