Kitten impaled by arrow

By Melissa Meehan
DESPITE being shot with an arrow, a kitten is looking to fully recover after staff at Healesville Veterinary Clinic performed surgery to remove the 77 centimetres arrow from its neck.
A local resident delivered the kitten to the clinic after she was startled to find the impaled kitten walking around Meyers Creek Road last week with an archery arrow running through its neck into its shoulder.
Staff at the Healesville vet clinic say that they were horrified when they received the call alerting them to the plight of the kitten.
Veterinary nurse Debbie Mackay said that the arrow looked similar to a “standard archery arrow, metal tipped arrow about 2cm in diameter.”
She said that the kitten was “lucky to be alive,” as it missed all vital organs.
She said that the kitten had no identification tags or chips and is believed to be between 12 and 14 weeks of age.
“We are currently looking to find a loving home to take in the kitten,” Ms Mackay said.
“Someone needs to take good care of her.”
Head Veterinarian Brett Chester said that the kitten was recovering well after the surgery, but he was disappointed that incidents like this were taking place.
“This is not the first arrow incident we have been made aware of, earlier in the year there was the impaled duck and I have spoken to a woman who says she is finding arrows in her horse paddocks,” Mr Chester said.
Yarra Glen Police are investigating the matter, and have taken the arrow as evidence.
Police believe that someone has deliberately taken aim at the kitten and that if found the offender could be facing a charge of Aggravated Cruelty to an animal.
Police are appealing to anyone who has any information concerning the kitten and who may have shot at it to contact Senior Constable Maccagnini at Yarra Glen Police Station on 9730 1296.