Cat dubbed 'Robin Hood' shot with arrow through paw

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

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The cat, now called 'Robin Hood', has undergone surgery and is recovering. Watch the story Watch Video

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A cat shot with an arrow through its paw has undergone surgery and is recovering.

Gail McFarland found the cat, now called Robin Hood, near a power substation on Whitney Road.

"I saw an arrow like that in his front paw and tried to get it out but got caught up all in the brush there," she said.

McFarland says she knows the feral cats hang out around there so she went out to give them some water.

"For somebody to be out here shooting him is just unimaginable to me," she said. "I don't know what kind of person does that."

Deputies asked Bay News 9 not to show the colors of the arrow because they believe that's what will lead them to a suspect.

"Apparently arrows are sold in packets of six," said Abigail Appleton, with the Humane Society of Pinellas County. "So, we have the one arrow and there's going to be some matching arrows hopefully near by."

The arrow missed hitting a bone so, it looks like the cat's wound will heal.

Still, McFarland hopes whoever shot the cat is caught.

"If they are going to hurt animals, what's next, children?," McFarland said.

The crime carries a charge of aggravated animal abuse, a third degree felony.

Appleton says the cat is neutered and she believes he may have had an owner at some point in his life. She says he could be up for adoption in the future, but it won't be anytime soon.