October 2, 2008

Nine-year old Sheldon survived after an arrow hit him in the hip. (Pet Pulse Photo Courtesy of Nadine Mackes)

SECAUCUS, NJ -– A family's cat was severely injured when it went strolled the neighborhood one night and returned with a target arrow lodged in its hip.

Nadine Mackes, of Kunkletown, Pa., says her daughter found Sheldon, a nine-year old domestic long-haired cat, collapsed under the house's front porch last Thursday night.

"His leg was broken and from what my vet could tell us, he had a puncture in his right forearm," Mackes said. "Arrows went through there, right below his belly and then up the top of his hip."

Mackes' husband removed the arrow and rushed the cat to an emergency animal hospital. Sheldon returned home -- with stitches in his leg -- on Saturday, and continues to make a full recovery.

Within the past year, the Mackes family has seen two other of their cats -- one, who was two-years-old, and the other, nine -- mysteriously disappear.

"We never saw or found either of the cats again and we don't know if it is related or not," Mackes said.

The family's property, nestled in the Poconos, spans one acre and is "deeply wooded," Mackes said.

"It was 10:30 at night and it was dark. We just don't have any idea who would be out at that hour. It's just odd, very, very odd."

While Mackes expressed uncertainty over whether the incident was an accident or a purposeful attack, her daughter, Erica, expressed a more definitive stance during her mother's Wednesday evening phone interview.

"My daughter doesn't think it was an accident," Mackes relayed. "She says the arrow came right at him."

"And I don't see it as being an accident, either, but I don't know who would do such a thing."

Police officers have collected the arrow lodged in Sheldon and reportedly think someone used either a traditional bow, compound bow, or a cross bow to fire at the cat.

While police are investigating the case, "I just don't know what they can really do," said Mackes, who also has four dogs and three other cats.

This isn't the only time pets have served as victims of target practice.

In April, Pet Pulse reported a 150-pound mastiff who was shot with a three-pronged, razor-tipped hunting arrow.

The seven-year-old dog, Conan, who was targeted while resting on her owners' Seattle property, died from blood loss.

In January, a two-year-old chocolate lab was found to have a eight-and-a-half-inch aluminum arrow shaft lodged in its chest for an undetermined period of time.

Like Sheldon, the lab, Remington, survived the incident and has recovered nicely.

Sheldon will remain largely crated as he continues to heal, but Mackes has high hopes for the outgoing cat.

"He's healing amazingly, and can't wait to get out of that crate," she said. "He's a real trooper."

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