The Moorefield Police Department responded to a call on Feb. 14 regarding an orange cat with a head injury near Metallurgy Street in Moorefield.
Officers found the male cat, which had been shot with an arrow. The MPD officers received assistance from W.Va. Natural Resource Police officers, who captured the cat and transported it to South Branch Animal Hospital for treatment.
Vets at SBAH determined the arrow had not punctured any major organs, improving the cat’s chances of survival, but also found infection. They determined the arrow had been in the cat for at least a week.
Local rescue groups were unable to pay for necessary surgery, so Chestina Tharpe Merriner, who works with Potomac Highlands Animal Rescue, transferred the cat to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA), where veterinarians treated him successfully and saved his life.
Because he was found on Valentines Day, he was named Cupid.
“Cupid is doing well, doing fine,” said Chelsea Jones, AWLA communications specialist.
As of the of Feb. 21, AWLA had raised more than $80,000 towards Cupid’s care.[private]
“Anything we don’t use for Cupid, we’ll be able to help others in need,” said AWLA CEO and president Sam Wolbert.[/private]