A Masury woman says her cat, Smokey, had to have it's leg amputated after she found the family pet with a bullet in its leg.

Julie Hettrick says she rescued the cat several years ago, and although Smokey was aloud indoors, she says he preferred to be outside but would always come home for meals.

"He just stopped showing up for four days, and then I found him in my bushes outside of my house," said Hettrick.

Hettrick says they then took Smokey to Village Green Veterinary Services.

"We were just going to have to put him down, because we could not afford all of the treatment he needed. So we actually signed over ownership to the vet (assistant), because they (she) wanted to try their best," said Hettrick. "They did what they had to and I am so thankful they did because they saved him."

"He just seemed sweet and I wanted to give him a chance," said Vet Assistant Madeleine Morton, who now has ownership of the cat. "I could tell how sick he was and I just wanted to try at least."

Morton said a BB pellet was also discovered in the cats other leg. She says, Smokey has a long road to recovery.

"We are hoping he doesn't have nerve damage," said Morton. "Unfortunately he has not urinated yet, since yesterday, so we are concerned that the may not be able to express his bladder on his own."

It's still not clear who shot the cat or why. The family has filed a report with Brookfield Police.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help pay for Smokey's medical bills.