Cat With Arrow Through Body Found In Riverside County

PERRIS, CA -- Riverside County veterinarians on Sunday were "cautiously optimistic" that a 2-year-old cat will recover after he was found with an arrow through his body. The Department of Animal Services said a Perris officer found the male tabby who was alert but "obviously suffering."

Dr. Sara Strongin and her team anesthetized the cat and safely removed the arrow. She said she and her colleagues are cautiously optimistic the cat might make a recovery.

“He was alert, vocal and in pain,” Strongin said. “The arrow entered in his left shoulder and traveled through his muscles and exited in his lower chest area, near his sternum."

Had the arrow entered his chest cavity, the animal would have been in much more distress, Strongin said.

“The question now is whether there is any internal damage that we cannot see on the initial X-ray,” she said.

Officials said the cat’s left, front leg is fractured above its elbow. It will need to be surgically repaired by an orthopedic surgeon or, possibly, amputated.

“The majority of the trauma is the left front leg, as evidenced by the fracture,” Strongin said. “But, still, we cannot rule out any potential internal injury.”

Perris Animal Control officers are uncertain who shot the cat, but anyone with information is urged to call 951-657-4134.

“We will assist our counterparts in Perris in any way we can to see that the cruel person who did this is held accountable,” said Riverside County Animal Services' Frank Corvino, a deputy director who oversees the Field Services Division and shelter services. “It’s a heinous act when someone purposely harms any animal causing serious -- and sometimes -- fatal injuries.”

--Photo via YouTube screenshot