BEING SHOT AND LEFT FOR DEAD may have taken one life from this kitty, but his will to survive proved stronger. He spent a moment with Santa during the annual Santa Paws picture op and fund-raiser Dec. 6 in hopes the Jolly Old Elf could help grant his wish for a safe home with loving humans to spend his remaining eight lives with.
The gray and white feline was named “Heart” by shelter staff for the small, gray heart that is visible on his left cheek, He has a long road to recover from the senseless act that occurred. According to Betsy Hallett, manager of the Central Aroostook Humane Society in Presque Isle, the cat was found injured in the road by a couple on the way to their Portage camp who brought him to the shelter about two weeks ago. When shelter personnel examined the cat, they determined it was more than just an open sore and took him to a local vet who then performed surgery to remove buckshot. The incision runs from his upper chest to just over his right shoulder – as pictured here. While the wound is healing nicely, Heart has since come down with an upper respiratory illness and has been hospitalized at the vet for nearly a week. The shelter is hoping the public will find it in their “hearts” to donate toward Heart’s vet bills. Officials are hoping anyone with information on this case will contact law enforcement in their community to report what they know or call Aroostook County Crime Stoppers at 800-638-TIPS.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty 
