A victim of animal cruelty, an innocent neutered male cat was shot once in the eye and twice in the stomach area with a pellet gun by a Fanwood, New Jersey resident in mid April, 2005.

Fanwood Police received a call from a 19 year old resident, requesting the phone number for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), stating that a cat in his yard had been shot.   When the police arrived, the man admitted to shooting the cat himself.  The young man was immediately arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon.  He has also been charged with animal cruelty by the NJ-SPCA.

According to police, the male cat, whom we named Survivor, had crawled into an open basement window of the man's house.  When he went to remove the cat, he was scratched whereupon he then took the cat into the yard and shot him three times at close range with a .117 caliber pellet gun.

Animal Cruelty Victim Benefits from Animal Rescue Fund

A police officer called our Newark shelter asking for assistance with the injured cat.  Thanks to supporters of our Animal Rescue Fund, Survivor was able to receive immediate medical care for his wounds at an emergency clinic.  Due to the severity of the trauma, he required further stabilization at a second animal hospital.  Once his condition improved he was taken to surgical specialists to have his eye removed.  Survivor is now recovering and has a chance for his heart as well as his wounds to heal.  This is what the Animal Rescue Fund is all about, and it is only through your generosity and kindness that we can provide this kind of assistance to victims of animal cruelty and abuse.

The fact that Survivor was neutered, somewhat portly and so friendly, surely indicated that he was not a stray. Today, this sweet boy has healed quite nicely and is back in our Newark shelter awaiting adoption. It's been quite an ordeal for a cat who did nothing other than follow his natural curiosity. He certainly didn't deserve to be shot, and now Survivor hopes for someone who'll love him and keep him close, never to roam again.  If interested in providing that special home for Survivor, please contact us for an adoption application.

Help Victims of Animal Cruelty through Donations to Animal Rescue Fund

This kind of medical veterinary care doesn't come cheap, and we ask that you please help Survivor and others in need through a donation to our Animal Rescue Fund.  The Animal Rescue Fund is specifically earmarked for victims of animal cruelty, such as Survivor, who need specialized and/or emergency medical care.