WASHINGTON – The Washington Humane Society is looking for the culprit who shot and paralyzed, but did not kill, a pregnant deer in April.

The society is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whomever is responsible and called the shooting an act of animal cruelty.

Humane society law enforcement officers found the deer on April 27 in the 2900 block of 4th Street SE near the intersection with Mellon Street. The animal could not move from her midsection down and officers thought the deer had been struck by a car.

The deer suffered a small gunshot wound near her spine, which broke her verterbrae and paralyzed her. No signs of blunt force trauma from the impact with a car were found. She was euthanized and later determined to have been pregnant.

Investigators do not believe a hunter shot her based on the type of bullet found, the summer season and that the deer was left alive.

“It is frightening to know that this deer was more than likely intentionally mortally wounded and left to die,” stated Zita Macinanti, the society’s director of law enforcement.

Anyone with information about the deer is asked to call 202-723-5730 or to send an email to ddermamo@washhumane.org.

Follow @WTOP on Twitter.