WARNING: Images at the bottom of this story may disturbing for some viewers
A 3-month-old kitten was found in a Chicago suburb Wednesday with third-degree burns covering most of its body and shelter officials believe someone may have attached fireworks to it.
“Honestly I thought the cat was dead when I saw pictures,” said Abby Smith, executive director of Felines and Canines.
Smith said she received a call Wednesday reporting a severely burned cat found in an alley in Harwood Heights.
“We believe that he was burned, possibly fireworks attached to him, something like that,” Smith said.
The shelter arranged for immediate emergency vet care for the kitten, which is showing signs it could recover.
Shelter officials report the kitten is eating, which is a good sign, and he has urinated, which means “his internal organs are actually working.”
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“He’s not giving up, which is why we’re doing this for him,” Smith said. “If we thought for a second he was suffering or in pain, we would humanely euthanize him.”
The shelter noted that the cost of IV fluids, pain meds, overnight monitoring and possible surgery for the kitten is pricey, and they are asking for donations to help pay for its emergency care.
“It’s in the thousands already and it’s just been 24 hours,” Smith said.
Most importantly, the shelter hopes situations like this will help raise awareness to fight animal cruelty.
“I would beg people to, please, let everyone know this is not cool, it’s not fun, cruelty is cruelty, no matter what you’re doing it to,” Smith said. “And please, just stop this from happening again."
Donations can be made via Felines and Canines website.
