They say cats have nine lives. If true, a 2-year-old male, domestic short-haired feline used up at least one when he was shot by an arrow last month — and survived.
After removing the arrow in emergency surgery May 18 and nursing him back to health at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, Riverside County officials are ready to place “Archer” in a home. And they are asking prospective pet owners to submit short essays stating why they would like to adopt him
Riverside County Animal Services veterinarian Sara Strongin holds Archer in May after removing an arrow at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus. (File photo by Jeannette Castro and Jose McLaughlin/San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus/Riverside County Animal Services via AP)
“The essay does not have to be award-winning prose,” said Riverside County Animal ServicesDirector Robert Miller. “We’re encouraging people to write from the heart.”
Animal services spokesman John Welsh said essays will be accepted until midnight Thursday, June 14.
Essays may be dropped off at any of four Riverside County-run shelters or sent via email to shelterinfo@rivco.org. Essay writers are asked to include full name, address and telephone number. Those submitting by email are asked to write “ARCHER THE CAT ESSAY” in the subject line.
Veterinarian Sara Strongin said the ideal adopter would be committed to raising Archer as an indoor-only cat and guarding against overfeeding. The cat’s left, front leg required amputation later, and as a result he has only three legs to support his weight.
“He’s getting well on three legs,” said Strongin. “But he won’t be the quickest to dodge coyotes or motorists. We’d be very disappointed to discover he survived the arrow shooting, only to get hit by a car.”
Original article: https://www.pe.com/2018/06/11/love-cats-write-an-essay-and-win-ownership-of-one-that-survived-being-shot-by-arrow/