Dearborn animal shelter saves cat struck by arrow, offers $1,000 reward to catch shooter

Santana, an 8-year-old cat rescued earlier this month by the Dearborn Police Department, is recovering at the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit shelter after undergoing lifesaving surgery to remove an arrow, which had collapsed both lungs.

"Santana was very, very lucky," the Dearborn shelter posted to Facebook. Fortunately, the arrow didn't hit its heart or spine and could be removed. "It is because of your support that our staff can go above and beyond for quality care like this."

The internet is full of stories about cats shot with arrows, many of them are injured after being used for target practice and left for dead. In this story, the cat is rescued, undergoes surgery — and gets a new name and a chance to start over on his 8th — or maybe even his 6th or 7th — life.

The Dearborn shelter, which said it is "amazed by how sweet" Santana still is, offered a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person — or people ― who were responsible for shooting him.

The shelter also is seeking a foster parent to help Santana get better before he is put up for adoption.

Cory Keller, the shelter's president, told the Free Press that someone saw the cat, which had an arrow through it, caught it, turned it over to police, who brought it to the shelter. He said no microchip or identifying collar was found, and the $5,000 surgery to remove the projectile took a couple of hours, at least.

Why would someone shoot a cat?

Keller said it's likely whoever did, tried to kill it.

The consequences however, for harming an animal, even a stray, can be serious.

In 2015, a Texas veterinarian, Kristen Lindsey, killed a tomcat with an arrow and boasted about it on social media: "My first bow kill lol. The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through its head! Vet of the year award … gladly accepted."

The Texas animal clinic where she was employed fired her.

She also was suspended from practicing medicine for a year and faced four years of professional probation. Many thought her actions were inconsistent with the values of veterinary medicine. Some animal lovers felt that punishment was far too lenient.

The Dearborn shelter is asking anyone with any information to call 313-943-2697, extension 1017.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dearborn shelter saves cat shot with an arrow, offers $1K reward