FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) - Workers with Fayetteville Animal Services saved a male cat named Simba on Wednesday morning (Jan. 21) that had been shot through the head with an arrow. They successfully removed the arrow from its head through surgery.
The call about the injured cat came in around 9 a.m., and by 9:30 a.m. Simba was being cared for by a veterinarian, according to Anthony Rankin, manager of the Animal Services Program for the city of Fayetteville.
By 10:10 a.m., it was out of surgery and in recovery, Rankin said.
"I can't believe he's still alive," he added.
The animal is a domestic short haired cat, and the person who shot him with an arrow will face animal cruelty charges, according to Rankin.
Simba's 13-year-old owner is in Florida, and neighbor Diane Lindley was asked to come over daily and take care of the animal. Rankin said the neighbor found the wounded cat on Wednesday and called Fayetteville Animal Services for help.
"There was no reason why a person should shoot an animal like that," Lindley said. "It was shocking."
Most of the damage to the cat is in its sinus passages, which the arrow passed through, officials said. Veterinarian Valerie Henley said she had never seen anything like it.
"The arrow was straight through the head. In through the cheek, out through the nose," Henley said.
She said Simba was still energetic when he arrived for surgery, and was meowing, even purring.
"And then I just pulled [the arrow] all the way out, and it came out no problem, no bleeding," Henley said. "Very miracle like, and something was watching over that kitty."
As of 2 p.m., the cat was resting and recovering. Rankin said the veterinarian that treated the cat expects it to survive, and the Fayetteville Police Department and Fayetteville Animal Services are working together to find the person responsible. Having the arrow in their possession may help police identify the person who fired it, Rankin said.
Simba was found in the 600 block of Happy Hollow Road, according to Rankin. Lindley believe the shooter lives nearby and said she hopes the person is arrested.
"To me, that was deliberate," she said. "I hope they prosecute him."
Anyone with information on this crime is encouraged to call the animal services department at 479-444-3456.
[Editorial note: The pictures of the cat below may be disturbing to some viewers.]
