Abandoned then hunted, cat to begin new life
MARYSVILLE, Wash. -- Even with its nine lives, it just may be a miracle a local cat is still alive.
Back in January, Charles' owners abandoned him, leaving the kitten to fend for himself.
"The people moved and dumped him. And ever since I've been looking for a home for him but haven't been able to find one," said Patti Mikel , who has been feeding him since.
Mikel didn't take the critter in as her big dogs didn't seem to like the idea, but she has been keeping an eye on him.
Recently she found the 1-year-old white cat curled up inside the car seat by her front door. Looking closer, she spotted a hole in his side -- a bullet wound from an airsoft gun.
"And I spread the hair open a little more and I see the end of the bullet in there," Mikel said. "I pulled the bullet out with some tweezers and he just stood there while I did it."
But the cat's troubled days had yet to be over; the cruel hunt had only begun.
"A few days later he was shot again, a few days later shot again, and then a week later he was shot again," Mikel said.
Veterinarians believe Charles' thick fur likely saved him. The three pellets only left superficial wounds and Charles is expected to make a full recovery. But there's no telling
"Its heartbreaking," Mikel said. "Its horrible. He doesn't deserve that. No animal does."
After weeks of searching for a home, Mikel finally found a no-kills shelter in Arlington that promised to place Charles.
The executive director of the Humane Society at Happypaws Farm packed up the cat in her car in hopes of taking him to a new loving home.
"I'm going to look at two homes today. We've had lots of people call in,"Linda Hunter said.
Charles' new family must meet one new criteria: he must be an indoor cat from now on.
Back in January, Charles' owners abandoned him, leaving the kitten to fend for himself.
"The people moved and dumped him. And ever since I've been looking for a home for him but haven't been able to find one," said Patti Mikel , who has been feeding him since.
Mikel didn't take the critter in as her big dogs didn't seem to like the idea, but she has been keeping an eye on him.
Recently she found the 1-year-old white cat curled up inside the car seat by her front door. Looking closer, she spotted a hole in his side -- a bullet wound from an airsoft gun.
"And I spread the hair open a little more and I see the end of the bullet in there," Mikel said. "I pulled the bullet out with some tweezers and he just stood there while I did it."
But the cat's troubled days had yet to be over; the cruel hunt had only begun.
"A few days later he was shot again, a few days later shot again, and then a week later he was shot again," Mikel said.
Veterinarians believe Charles' thick fur likely saved him. The three pellets only left superficial wounds and Charles is expected to make a full recovery. But there's no telling
"Its heartbreaking," Mikel said. "Its horrible. He doesn't deserve that. No animal does."
After weeks of searching for a home, Mikel finally found a no-kills shelter in Arlington that promised to place Charles.
The executive director of the Humane Society at Happypaws Farm packed up the cat in her car in hopes of taking him to a new loving home.
"I'm going to look at two homes today. We've had lots of people call in,"Linda Hunter said.
Charles' new family must meet one new criteria: he must be an indoor cat from now on.