MICHIGAN – Just a few days ago, a kitten was found in Arenac County, bleeding and suffering from broken facial bones, injuries likely inflicted by a person.
Despite the trauma he suffered, the little guy is recuperating in the care of a local woman. Whoever harmed him remains a mystery.
The morning of Tuesday, Jan. 30, two people brought the approximately 4-month-old orange and white kitten over to Arenac County Animal Control.
“He had blood all over his face and you could tell he was injured pretty bad,” stated Kelly Zube, a kennel attendant at the facility. “He was breathing really hard.”
The people who initially brought him in said he had shown up at their house in the dire condition. Questioned by staff, the people went on to say that they did not witness the kitten being harmed.
Zube took the polydactyl kitten over to Zorn Animal Clinic, 5890 N. Huron Road in Pinconning, where he received needed treatment from veterinarian Dr. Matilda Tammy Zorn. Zorn determined he had suffered a broken jaw, broken bones in his nasal cavity, a broken cheekbone, and he was missing teeth. He also had an upper respiratory infection.
“It was definitely done by somebody,” Zube stated. “Whether he was hit by something like a baseball bat or thrown out of a moving car, something was done to break his face like that.”
Zorn did confirm this, saying the damage was deliberately inflicted and was not the result of a scrap with another animal or being hit by a car, as the kitten did not have road rash. The injuries were new, having been suffered a day or two previously, Zorn said.
Zorn decided to put the kitten on pain medications, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatories. It’s too early to ascertain what surgeries may be needed.
“We need to wait for the swelling to go down to really see what can be fixed and what can’t,” Zorn stated.
In the meanwhile, Zube has taken the kitten into her home.
“I’ve been syringe-feeding him formula mixed with canned cat food,” she stated. “By (Wednesday) night, he was able to eat some canned food on his own.”
Zube has named him Charger, “named after a Dodge Charger since he can plow through just about anything.”
Since visiting Zorn, Charger has shown improvement, Zube added.
“He’s been running around the house playing,” she said. “He loves my dogs and loves the other cats. It’s amazing how quickly he’s rebounded and learned to love and trust again after someone hurt him.”
Still, Charger is going to have a long road to recovery!
“He’s always going to look funny because his bone structure has now changed, but I think it gives him a very cute look,” Zube stated.
Charger is currently staying with Zube for the immediate future, though he could be put up for adoption once he’s healed and his medical issues have been dealt with.
Anyone who wishes to help with Charger’s veterinary costs can donate to the Humane Society of Bay County — an organization Zube volunteers with as an animal fosterer — noting a mention of the donation’s purpose.
“He’s definitely a fighter,” Zube added of Charger. “He has a great personality.”
