A horribly injured cat found by a highway near Cranbrook now has a second chance to live his nine lives to the fullest, thanks to the BC SPCA East Kootenay Branch.

The cat, named Nelson for Willie Nelson’s Highwayman song, had been shot seven times by a pellet gun and had a huge gash in his neck.

The pellets were embedded in his head. The vet says the wounds in his neck appear as though someone actually tried to cut his head off. He was severely emaciated,” said branch manager Brenna Baker. “He is such a sweetheart and has gone through hell. We just want people to know, especially with today (April 23) being Animal Abuse Prevention Day, that this kind of abuse is happening in their communities – in their back yards.”

It never hurts to raise awareness about something as ugly as animal abuse and British Columbians can take action to help prevent it, Baker noted.

The pellets were removed from Nelson’s head and he required several stitches, plus he’ll need extensive dental surgery, as his teeth were shot and many are broken, she said.

If you can help Nelson and other animals like him in need of care at the BC SPCA East Kootenay Branch, you can donate online or in person at 3339 Highway 3 and 95, Cranbrook.

If you know anything about Nelson or how he received his injuries, please call the BC SPCA Animal Cruelty Hotline at 1-855-622-7722.

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.

BC SPCA

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