While Blackie, the cat being treated here in Valdosta will return home, her brother, Little Jim, passed away today from his injuries.

Veterinarians at Baytree Animal Hospital and at the University of Florida say Little Jim, who had been in a medically induced coma since he was brought in, went into cardiac arrest around 2 p.m. today after veterinarians tried to ween him off life support.

While vets did revive him, it was later decided by both doctors and his owner Jim Ragan, that future attempts to resuscitate LIttle Jim would not be made.

He died minutes later.

Meanwhile, Blackie, who suffered severe abdominal burns and had both ears partially amputated, will undergo surgery but is expected to fully recover.

"Things are healing nicely, um belly is doing good, um healthy looking tissue is being laid down underneath the burns, there is some tissue that I didn't think we were going to lose that I think we are going to end up losing," said Dr. Amanda Hall, the Valdosta veterinarian in charge of Blackie's medical care.

Vets say Blackie should be well enough to return home by the end of January.

While Brooks County is offering a $500 reward, the Humane Society of the United States has gotten involved and is now offering $2500 for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible.