Three charged after cats shot with blow darts in Tennessee

Three people have been charged in Tennessee after authorities said stray cats were shot with blow darts near a gas station — killing several animals and leaving one survivor with wounds that came within millimeters of her spine and aorta.

Darlene Hooper was arrested on Tuesday and charged with three counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, all Class E felonies, and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to WSMV 4.

Two juveniles were also charged with aggravated cruelty to animals in Houston County Juvenile Court.

The attacks unfolded in Erin, where Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue said it was alerted to a dead cat and an injured kitten at the Honeysuckle Exxon.

A rescue volunteer later found several dead cats that had also been shot with blow darts, according to WSMV 4.

Police recovered a blow dart gun and a pile of darts they believe were used in the attacks, the station reported.

One cat, named Xena, survived after being found staggering on the property with a dart lodged through her torso.

A surgeon said the projectile came perilously close to killing her.

“One millimeter higher would have severed her spine,” the surgeon told WSMV 4, while “one millimeter lower would have severed her aorta.”

Xena underwent a CT scan and emergency surgery and was later shown being discharged in a full-body cast.

Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue said the emergency treatment is expected to cost more than $10,000 and has appealed for donations.

The rescue initially said it had been told that roughly 25 to 30 cats had been living in woods behind the gas station and coming down to be fed, but that only nine remained.

It also said some of the cats had allegedly been killed in a similar manner and that some had portions of their fur skinned away.

The organization offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.