Man arrested for shooting raccoons

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COSTA MESA, Calif., Aug. 4 (UPI) -- A Costa Mesa, Calif., man was arrested on suspicion of shooting two raccoons, police say.

Samuel K. Gregory, who allegedly shot a mother and baby raccoon, could be charged with cruelty to animals, a felony, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The two raccoons were brought to All Creatures Care Cottage in Costa Mesa Wednesday morning, Debbie McGuire, the facility's hospital administrator, said.

The mother raccoon had to be euthanized due to a fractured elbow and shot wounds. The baby raccoon, called a kit, was dead before arriving at the All Creatures Care Cottage, McGuire said.

McGuire said a shotgun may have been used, as both animals were found with hundreds of pellets in them.

"It was horrifying," McGuire said.

"There's no excuse, absolutely no excuse for that," she said.