Reward offered in case of Maryland cats shot with blow-gun darts

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Video captured the moment floodwaters from super Typhoon Ragasa smashed through a hotel's glass doors and inundated the lobby.

* A reward of up to $7,500 is being offered for information about who shot at least eight cats with blow-gun darts.

* The attacks occurred in the Boonsboro, Maryland, area, specifically around Park Hall Road and Amos Reeder Road.

* Two cats have survived the attacks, while others were found dead or had to be euthanized.

* Authorities are urging residents to keep pets indoors and report any information to the Humane Society of Washington County.

The Humane Society of Washington County and Humane World for Animals are offering up to a $7,500 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of whomever has shot at least eight cats in the Boonsboro area with blow-gun darts.

Two cats have survived the attacks, with their prognoses still guarded, said Colin Berry, executive director for the Humane Society of Washington County.

Field Services Officer Tracey Wiles said one of those cats is doing better and is expected to recover.

"This is an egregious act of cruelty," Berry said in a Sept. 24 phone interview.

Numerous tips have been received, including some anonymous ones, but no one had been charged as of Sept. 24, Berry said.

The cats were found in the area of Park Hall Road and Amos Reeder Road, which is south of Boonsboro and north of Rohrersville. That area is east of Md. 67, also known as Rohersville Road.

Humane society officials are encouraging residents in that area to keep their cats and other pets indoors or not to leave them outside unsupervised until someone is charged in this case, Berry said.

How to submit a tip in case of Maryland cats shot with blow-gun darts

Berry encourages anyone with information about the case to contact the humane society. During business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, call 240-707-3082. After hours, call the emergency line at 301-790-7577.

Tips also can be emailed to casetips@hswcmd.org.

"We know that someone knows something and it just might be the missing piece to help us pull the entire case together," Berry said.

"We just encourage the community to share any information whether it be something they overheard or something they saw or something they may have pulled up on a local camera on their home," she said.

Perhaps they saw something unusual on home-security camera footage, Berry said.

If someone finds another cat injured like this, call the humane society's emergency line at 301-790-7577.

If someone witnesses a cat being shot, call 911 or the humane society, Berry said.

The local humane society is offering a $2,500 reward for information resulting in charges and successful prosecution of the incidents.

Humane World for Animals joined the effort, offering up to a $5,000 reward for info leading to conviction of the person or persons responsible for shooting the cats, according to a Sept. 24 release.

The Humane World for Animals was previously called the Humane Society of the United States. The group changed its name in February 2025.

What to know so far about cats attacked in Boonsboro area

The first cat was found dead on Sunday, Sept. 7, Berry said.

On Sept. 12, the local humane society posted on Facebook about seven cats being injured or killed in the area of Park Hall Road and Amos Reeder Road. The cats had been shot with steel razor-tip blow-gun darts.

The darts vary in length, about 5 inches to 6.5 inches long, according to Wiles.

A resident who manages a cat colony in the area found one of her cats dead on her property on Sunday, Sept. 7, according to Wiles and a news release from the local humane society.

"In the days that followed, she discovered three additional cats with similar flank injuries," the release states. "In total, six cats belonging to the resident were either found deceased or had to be humanely euthanized due to their injuries. One surviving cat received veterinary treatment and is expected to recover."

When field service officers from the local humane society were canvassing the area on Sept. 11 to alert neighbors, they were notified of another cat, Raccoon, who had been shot with a dart, the release states. Humane society officials were able to trap Raccoon on Sept. 15, Wiles said.

Raccoon is the eighth cat in this case, Wiles said via email. Raccoon was treated by a veterinarian and released back to the family.

The humane society is caring for one of the surviving cats, who was shot in the face, Berry said.