In a recent incident of animal cruelty that has disturbed the Philadelphia community, a cat named Kimiko was found shot with an arrow in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood. The Pennsylvania SPCA has reported that Kimiko, part of a cat colony, was discovered last week with an arrow through her right thigh by a caretaker who feeds the colony. This occurred on Thursday on the 2100 block of North 31st Street, PhillyVoice reported.
The injured feline was rushed to Philadelphia Animal Specialty and Emergency for immediate attention, where she was stabilized before two surgeons at the PSPCA facility successfully operated to remove the arrow and attend to her wounds. In a statement obtained by NBC Philadelphia, the PSPCA described the animal's condition and confirmed that Kimiko is on her path to recovery, receiving the necessary care to heal from this traumatic experience.
The PSPCA's Animal Law Enforcement team is spearheading an investigation to identify those behind this callous act. "Obviously, this is not just a normal injury. There was some heinous act involved in this," Gillian Kocher, Director of Public Relations and Marketing with the Pennsylvania SPCA, remarked in a FOX 29. The authority is looking into the possibility that a crossbow was used and is issuing a plea to the public for any information that could lead to identifying the perpetrator.
"Everyone who hears it is horrified. I mean, if you see the X-ray, just from that alone, you can tell this is horrible," explained Kocher, noting the severity of Kimiko's injury. While the cat has been fortunate to have missed any vital organs, the SPCA highlights that the use of a weapon in this incident could lead to felony charges for the person responsible. In the community's effort to prevent a recurrence of such acts, Kocher said, "It is all hands on deck and anyone who can help, we hope that they will. You know, I think that saying goes if you see something, say something," according to FOX 29.
The PSPCA urges anyone with information about the incident or the individuals responsible to come forward. The public can contact the SPCA's animal cruelty hotline at (866) 601-7722 or email [email protected]. In addition to seeking justice for Kimiko, the organization is requesting donations to support its efforts in treating and saving abused animals. The PSPCA also expressed gratitude for the community's support for Kimiko, as noted in a post on X highlighted by PhillyVoice.
Kimiko could easily distrust humans. After all, she was shot by one.
— Pennsylvania SPCA (@PSPCA) September 27, 2024
But, she is so sweet, loving, and luckily recovering after her surgery.
Learn more about her story and how you can help us find those responsible: https://t.co/19yAT4qivr pic.twitter.com/UZKtIeZabS
