Family cat shot by BB gun in Townsend

TOWNSEND, N.H. -- A family cat is given a second chance after being shot by a pellet gun.

The Hoff-Shine family noticed that their cat, Ren, was limping. Worried that something might be wrong, they took him to the vet and were disturbed by what the x-rays revealed.

Ren's femur in his right hind leg had been shattered by a pellet gun.

The family was devastated when they were told it would cost $3,000 for Ren's surgery. They simply could not afford to fix Ren's leg. They decided they would have to put him to sleep.

"I was really upset, because I thought we had to put him down," said 14-year-old Marina Hoff-Shrine.

But the doctors at the Animal Medical Center in Nashua, N.H. came to Ren's rescue, offering to fix his leg for free.

"Obviously we can't do this in every case, but whenever we can help we always try," said Dr. Charles Bradley.

Ren's surgery was a success. The hospital plans to help the family pay for the expensive medicines and treatment.

The MSPCA is looking into the case, if they find the shooter, that person could face animal cruelty charges.

There are currently no suspects in the attack.

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