HENDERSON, Colo. -- A Henderson man’s cat is recovering after it was tortured. Now the owner, Galen Gallardo, is hoping authorities can find out who was responsible for the act.
Gallardo says his cat was found in the bushes about a block from his home. When animal control found this cat, Sunny, he had zip ties tightly around each leg and a rope around its neck that got tighter the more the cat moved.
Gallardo and Sunny have been nearly inseparable for 15 years until this week. Gallardo says he lets his cats outside daily and he always comes back, but Sunday he didn’t. Gallardo walked the streets all day looking for his cat.
“I was just listening for a meow and he couldn’t meow because he was being choked.”
That night, a neighbor anonymously called the county sheriff's office and the next morning a Commerce City community service officer found him. Sunny’s nails were filed down. His paws bloodied and blistered. Zip ties were around his legs and a rope gripped tightly around his neck.
"It’s just amazing to think that people have that kind of mentality to abuse any kind of animal like that," Galllardo said.
Later that day, Gallardo happen to check the animal shelter, where he found his friend in rough shape.
“He’s just the sweetest guy. If only they knew how sweet he was. To be treated like that is beyond me, gosh.” Gallardo said.
Despite the clear abuse, Sunny is doing well. The wounds will heal, but life will change a bit.
“You’re an indoor cat now, buddy,” Gallardo tells Sunny as he goes back in their home.
This is the second case of abuse against a cat just this month. A few weeks ago, a family’s cat was found gutted in Thornton. Both incidents are being investigated.
