Who Shot Timmy? Ill. Family Searches for Answers After Finding Cat Paralyzed with Bullet in Spine

An Illinois woman is calling her cat, Timmy, a "fighter" after he was shot, left paralyzed from the midsection down, and caught on a surveillance camera dragging himself back home to safety.

Kylie Rodriguez and her family are looking for answers after their 5-year-old orange cat Timmy was shot on Saturday, Nov. 9, leaving the pet paralyzed with a bullet in his spine. Per ABC affiliate WLS-TV, a Ring camera captured the feline —who spends time in the house and outdoors — leaving their home safely at 9:37 a.m. that day and returning just over an hour later, obviously injured and dragging himself by his front legs.

Rodriguez's family discovered Timmy when they returned to their Crystal Lake home the evening of Nov. 9. According to the Daily Herald, Timmy didn't return when his owner called for him around 6 p.m. that day, so Rodriguez checked the location of his AirTag and spotted him "dragging" himself on the sidewalk.

"Our family is devastated," she told the outlet. "He was the most adventurous, fun, silly kitty, full of so much love. I've never experienced a cat quite like Timmy."

Rodriguez said that Timmy first entered her life a year ago when he wound up in the family's backyard and never left. As she explained, he "adopted us." But now, the outdoor cat has a bullet lodged in his spine, and Rodriguez told WLS-TV that the family is waiting to see if the vet can remove it.

"I was honestly so shocked when [doctors were] like, 'there's a bullet in his spine,'" Rodriguez said. "I just don't know how somebody could be so disgusting to an innocent animal... how could you do that?"

The family runs an Instagram page for their furry friend — sharing photos of him hiding in various locations around their house. On the page's Instagram Story on Thursday, Rodriguez revealed that officers had been "ringing doorbells" and "talking to neighbors" amid a police investigation. On Friday morning, she shared a clip of Timmy in positive spirits as he played with a ribbon.

On Nov. 15, the Crystal Lake Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that there is an "active investigation" into finding Timmy's shooter, but there are "no new updates" at this time.

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The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign dedicated to Timmy's recovery, with Rodriguez writing that her pet was "diagnosed with paralysis as a result of the incident." The campaign, which has since surpassed its $10,000 goal as of Friday, is raising funds for "ongoing vet bills" and "specialty appointments to see if there is anything further that can be done regarding his diagnosis."

Speaking with CW affiliate WGN-TV, Rodriguez revealed that her cat has not "been living his best life" in the days since he was shot and "seems very sad and kind of depressed and just frustrated." She told the Herald that Timmy's recovery has already cost her $1,000 in vet bills and added that the cat is now afraid to go outside.

"It's insane someone would hurt an innocent animal," Rodriguez said. "Our whole family is heartbroken."