Cat shot with crossbow arrow through chest miraculously survives surgery
A pet cat found with an arrow pierced through its chest in Michigan has made a miraculous recovery, officials said Wednesday.
The 1-year-old masculine kitten named Booger is expected to sustain after undergoing a dicey operation to eliminate the projectile punctured in his figure, according to his caregivers at the Capital Area Humane Society.
"It has been a very long twenty four hours, but we are thrilled to announce that kitty’s status has been upgraded from guarded to excellent," the Lansing animal shelter said.
"He is purring, eating, and seems to be in very good spirits, which is a massive improvement from the condition he has been in since Monday."
Animal control officers found the orange-and-white tabby injured under a deck by a highway in rural Kalamo Township early Monday, the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office said.
It had been shot by a crossbow arrow, which had a target peak and was sticking out of the cat’s chest, according to authorities.
An X-ray shows how deep the crossbow arrow pierced through Booger’s chest.
Booger rests after undergoing surgery to liquidate the crossbow arrow from its chest.
It was touch-and-go, but Booger has survived the surgery and shows up to be in good form.
Officials primarily feared Booger might not live through the trauma or could lose a front limb due to a severed radial nerve.
"It’s pretty touch-and-go right now," Capital Area Humane Society President Julia Willson had told the Detroit Free Press on Tuesday.
But the feisty feline appeared to be in good form Wednesday.
Police are still on the hunt for the cat’s shooter. It’s unclear if the cat was specifically targeted. The sheriff’s office noted archery season for whitetail deer commenced in Michigan this month.
"While we would like to believe that the shooting of this kitty was not intentional, we are unluckily all too familiar with the fact that acts of cruelty against animals are common," the Capital Area Humane Society said.
The shooting suspect could face up to four years in prison, community service or a $Five,000 fine. A court could also order the defendant to pay the costs of the animal’s medical bill.
The Capital Area Humane Society is suggesting a $1,000 prize to anyone with information about the case.
Booger’s proprietor has been identified but said she couldn’t afford the medical care for her cat, which disappeared last Saturday, authorities said.
The animal group said donations to help with Booger’s medical expenses could be made to their group’s Special Care and Cruelty Fund.
