Residents of Rancho Mirage have taken up a collection and pledge a $1,500 reward for information leading to the person who shot a and seriously wounded a black swan.
Sweetie Pie, a 13-year-old domesticated black swan, was shot twice with a BB gun around December 13th at its home, a pond at Lake Mirage Racquet Club.
Locals pooled their money to offer the reward. Marc Balzac, one of these residents, set up a ''swan abuse hotline'' for people to call with information about the shooting.
After the shooting, residents noticed the swan's breathing was strange. The swan received medication for a respiratory infection, but the condition persisted.
A veterinarian then took X-rays and found BB gun ammunition in its windpipe.
Since the surgery would be more dangerous to the swan than the wound, the veterinarian decided to take no action.
The swan is currently recuperating in a makeshift infirmary on Balzac's patio.
