A good Samaritan passing by saw a horrific sight Saturday in North Fort Myers – a group of young children abusing a cat.

But this wasn’t ordinary abuse, said Animal Refuge Center Board Member Betty Hughes. “It was one of the worst abuse cases I’ve seen in my nine years of working with the center.”

The kitten – now named “Palooka” – sparked the following plea for funds to save it, penned by Hughes on behalf of ARC:

“Life on the streets is hard on a kitten but usually due to encounters with wildlife or speeding cars. This time the attackers were the two legged kind and youngsters themselves. Several boys, appearing to be around eight or ten years old, repeatedly beat a defenseless kitten with hoses. As luck would have it a Vet of the Iraq war, recently laid off, was driving in the same area looking for employment and saw the attackers. He pulled his car into the open field scaring the boys back into the woods. Ever so gently lifting the motionless kitten into his car, ARC was called and made immediate plans to meet this Good Samaritan at the Animal Hospital at Kelly Crossing.

“Because of this kittens’ strong will to live, he was named Palooka and received immediate care to cleanse his wounds and provide antibiotics. Temporary sutures were done to give the shredded skin a chance to heal. Torn foot pads were cleaned and it was discovered the majority of his rear claws had been pulled out.

“Things progressed slowly the first few days and our hopes rose that his skin would recover. However by the end of the first week it was necessary for Palooka to have a second surgery to remove large areas of dying tissue. A team of two doctors started at the head and worked towards the hips removing non-viable skin and then sewed what tissue was left together.

“Palooka is looking at long term hospital care under careful observation to halt further skin deterioration and massive infection. The skin is a mammal’s largest organ and to lose such a large area presents the inability to ward off infection and regulate body temperature. Palooka continues to focus on his little stuffed toy seemingly oblivious to his treatment plan or the possible need for skin grafts.”

The Animal Refuge Center is reaching out to the community for assistance to help offset Palookas’ mounting hospital bills. If the young and innocent fall victim to abuse they deserve our compassion to help them recover when at all possible. Palooka still wants to live and ARC wants to give him every opportunity to recover and be placed in a home where he will never be subjected to abuse again. Donations can be sent to the Palooka Fund at ARC PO Box 6642 Ft Myers, Fl 33911.

Incorporated in 1988, Animal Refuge Center is a not-for-profit animal welfare society, dedicated to caring for all homeless animals brought to its care at its 22 -acre sanctuary in North Fort Myers. The sanctuary houses thirty canine lodges, a Canine Training Center, a Cat Adoption Center, twelve feline facilities, and is home to more than 440 cats and 60 dogs.

For more information visit www.AnimalRefuge.com

Source: ARC