Kitten Shot Twice & Found Along Side Of Road, Investigation Underway
HOSTETTER (KDKA) – An animal rescue in Westmoreland County is asking for the public's help after a kitten was shot twice.
According to Paws Across Pittsburgh's Facebook page, they received a call about an injured kitten in Hostetter around 9 a.m. Thursday.
The cat was discovered lying on the side of Treskovisch Road in between 2nd and 3rd Streets.
When rescuers found the kitten, she had no use of her back legs, but was still alive. The kitten was rushed to Vought Veterinary Services, where it was determined the feline had been shot twice.
Caretakers have named the 6-month-old kitten Gidget.
One pellet was lodged in Gidget's vertebrae, which paralyzed her; while another was lodged in her armpit.
"She pulls herself around on her front legs, but is not using her back legs," said Dr. Danielle Vought, DVM.
Dr. Vought is fostering Gidget for the time being. She initially thought the kitten was hit by a car.
"After initial exam, she has a little pellet underneath her one armpit here and we took x-rays," Dr. Vought said.
Dr. Vought doesn't think she will need to do surgery to remove either pellet for now.
It is unclear who shot Gidget or why she was left on the side of the road. Fortunately, someone driving by spotted the kitten and called Paws Across Pittsburgh, a nonprofit rescue group. A volunteer took Gidget to Vought's mobile office in Derry before she was taken to Avalon Veterinary Hospital.
Dr. Vought said it could take a few weeks or even up to a few months before she knows whether or not little Gidget will remain paralyzed. However, she is moving her legs a little bit so she's hopeful that Gidget will pull through.
"Initially, with any kind of spinal trauma you want to wait until the inflammation kind of resolves. Nerves do regenerate a small amount, not a ton, but a small amount," Dr. Vought said. "Even whether she's walking or not, sometimes you'll have special owners that want to make them a wheelchair or whatever like that."
Gidget also has fleas, ear mites and an upper respiratory infection.
Anyone with information is asked to call humane officers at (724)-762-9060, or email mindy@pawsacrosspittsburgh.com.
Donations for the cat's care can be made through the Paws Across Pittsburgh website here or call Dr. Danielle Vought at Vought Veterinary Services.
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