Shot Cat Gets Second Chance at Marshfield Area Pet Shelter

OnFocus – Marla was found in the Auburndale area with a gaping open wound on her chest, which was later determined to be from a gunshot. A caring family brought her to Marshfield Area Pet Shelter (MAPS), where Medical Coordinator Holly Henschke realized that she needed immediate medical attention.

“Once I was able to get a better look at Marla, I knew that she needed to see a vet right away.  She had a large, infected wound near her chest and she could not bear any weight on her front leg,” said Henschke. “Thankfully, Wildwood Animal Hospital was able to examine Marla, where it was determined that she had been shot and that they suspected in addition to being fractured, she also had nerve damage to her leg.  Her amputation, spay, and other wound care were performed the following Monday.”

Marla’s surgery went well and she continues to recover at MAPS with help from pain medication and antibiotics.

“Marla is doing really well now! She is comfortable, eating well, and seems to be gaining her energy back,” said Henschke. “Marla is definitely a ‘people cat.’  She adores the people who care for her and is a talker and loves affection.  As friendly as she is toward people, cats are another story!  She will have to go to a household with no other cats.”

Despite her amputation, she is expected to live a normal cat life.

“As terrible as amputation sounds for us, cats and dogs adapt very well to having a limb removed,” said Henschke. “Because of the nerve damage to the leg, she had already become accustomed to relying on her other three legs for support and is not showing any signs of balance issues.  Once she is healed, she will be able to run and play like any other cat, except that she will have a ‘hopping’ gait on her front end.”

MAPS is grateful for any donations to help with Marla’s medical expenses. In addition to her leg amputation, she also had an injury on her hip that required medical attention and sutures. Any additional funds above the amount needed for Marla will be put into the MAPS medical fund to help pay for other special procedures and surgeries for animals that come into the organization’s care.

Anyone without kitties and willing to open their home to Marla are encouraged to fill out an online adoption application at MarshfieldPetShelter.org.

If you know anything about Marla or have information about who shot her, please contact MAPS at ‪(715) 486-5140.

You can help prevent animal cruelty! Ordinance Officer Kayla Wolf offers the following tips:

1. Be a responsible pet owner. Know about and fulfill the needs of your pet.
2. Report any animal cruelty, abuse or neglect to the local law enforcement agency.
3. Teach your children to have respect for animals. Set a good example by being respectful towards animals and show your children how to treat animals with love and consideration.

We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!