Posted: May. 31, 2017 3:55 pm Updated: Jun. 1, 2017 8:43 am

BARRY, Ill. -- The Pike County Sheriff's Department has a person of interest in the recent shooting of a cat in Barry.

A report has been sent to the Pike County State's Attorney's Department, and it is now the decision of Pike County State's Attorney Zack Boren whether to pursue a charge of criminal damage to property against the individual.

A Barry resident recently made a report with the sheriff's department after finding the family's cat dead in a bush, with apparent pellet gun wounds, she told The Herald-Whig's news-gathering partners at WGEM. The animal's body was taken to a veterinarian but had deterioriated to the point the cause of death could not be accurately determined.

The sheriff's department also received a report of a dog in Barry having been shot with a pellet gun.

The resident told WGEM "a total of 15 cats" have gone missing, but the sheriff's department has only received one complaint. The sheriff's department is aware of several rumors that have begun circulating in the wake of the single report.

"During the course of our investigation, evidenciary material was taken, and we sought professional opinions in the animal husbandry field," said Pike County Sheriff Paul Petty, "but others reported through other parties."

Without a formal complaint, the sheriff's office cannot investigate the possibility of more disappearances, which have been discussed largely on social media.

"Law enforcement works on facts only," Petty said, urging people not to confuse "common sense with the judicial system. We need a factual basis to support this," rather than a "foredrawn conclusion."

Anyone with more information can call the Pike County Sheriff's Department at 217-285-5011.