Prineville, Ore. – A local pastor is facing community outrage after allegations surfaced that he shot a neighborhood cat and disposed of it in a church dumpster. The Crook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) confirmed it is actively investigating the incident and urged residents to be cautious about information circulating on social media.
The cat, named Pumpkin, survived the shooting but sustained severe injuries. According to an update from the cat’s family shared at noon today, Pumpkin was struck by three .22 caliber bullets to the head. Due to the damage, both of his eyes will need to be removed, leaving the cat permanently blind.
Pumpkin’s owner, Amanda Lougher, told the Prineville Review she initially feared the worst after hearing community chatter late Sunday about a cat being shot. She described going to Pastor Jason Swick’s home to ask about the situation. Swick admitted to her that he had placed a white cat in a church dumpster, leading Lougher to rush there with friends. To her shock, Pumpkin was still alive, “meowing and bleeding everywhere.”
“It’s not just my cat — it’s my one-year-old’s cat. We just got him for Christmas last year,” Lougher said emotionally, describing the ordeal as traumatic for her family. She said her children were devastated, adding, “My kids didn’t deserve this, and the cat damn well did not deserve this… he looked him dead in the eye and shot him in the face.”
Lougher said she called 911, and deputies were present when she pulled the bloodied cat out of the dumpster before rushing him to an emergency veterinarian in Bend. She questioned why Swick chose to hide the incident rather than call authorities: “If you genuinely killed something to protect your chickens, why would you put it in a trash bag and dump it blocks away at your place of business? Why wouldn’t you call the police and do the right thing?”
A neighbor of Swick reportedly witnessed the shooting and shared a post about it on social media, believing the cat belonged to someone in the southeast Prineville neighborhood near Crook County High School. Loughner said the post, which described a cat similar to hers, is what led her to discover the incident.
The Prineville Review also spoke with several residents who gathered in protest outside the Prineville Church of Christ, where Swick is employed. Among them was local business owner Ken Wilson, who said he had operated his fruit stand from the church’s parking lot but would no longer do so. “As an animal owner myself, I completely do not agree with anything that has happened,” Wilson said, adding that he plans to relocate his business and focus on future animal welfare projects.
Calls to Swick seeking comment have not yet been returned. Both the Prineville Review and KTVZ attempted to reach him at his residence this afternoon, the location where the shooting allegedly occurred. Family members stated that Swick and his wife were not currently home.
Swick did address the incident in a public Facebook post, saying he believed the cat was feral and had been attacking his family’s chickens. He said he acted to protect the flock, writing that he attempted to “euthanize” the animal but now regrets how he handled the situation. “I’m so sorry and feel terrible. I was afraid and didn’t know what else to do in the moment. I wish things could have been different,” he wrote.
Sheriff’s officials emphasized that the investigation “cannot be rushed” and asked the public to allow the process to unfold so accurate information can be documented. The Prineville Review did note that some citizens had incorrectly identified another individual instead of Swick in online postings.
Meanwhile, the community has rallied with prayers, donations, and a GoFundMe campaign to support the family with veterinary costs. Lougher expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support: “Everyone has been phenomenal and supportive and loving. Just keep praying for Pumpkin — and for my kids.”
Lieutenant Mitch Madden with CCSO told the Prineville Review that it could not release any additional information, but did confirm their deputies responded late last night to the call. He also confirmed that all the parties involved in the investigation were actively cooperating with investigators.
Dr. Victoria Arbona, a critical care specialist at the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon, confirmed that Pumpkin the cat sustained “pretty severe injuries to the face consistent with a gunshot wound.” She said Pumpkin is stable and being closely monitored at the hospital.
“It’s too early to say how he’s going to do because of the gravity of the wound,” Arbona said, noting that the first 48 hours are critical in assessing recovery. “He’s okay right now, but wounds can change a lot in the first 48 hours, so we’re keeping a really close eye on him.”
Arbona added that the clinic is working with the family to help ease financial burdens and confirmed both a GoFundMe campaign and a clinic-facilitated CareFund are active to assist with hospitalization costs.
This is a developing story. The Prineville Review will provide updates as more details become available.
Editor’s Note: Western Media Group (Prineville Review) occasionally includes links to GoFundMe and other fundraising platforms in stories where they are relevant to the news. These links are provided solely as part of our reporting. We do not verify or guarantee the legitimacy of individual fundraising campaigns, and readers should use their own discretion before donating.
Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject mater expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
