ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A cat shot with an arrow near St. Pete one month ago has found a new home.
The cat named "PAKman," which stands for "Poor Arrow Kitty," in reference to the crime, was rescued on Jan. 31 near 72nd Avenue North and 33rd Street North in an unincorporated area of Pinellas County.
The cat has since made a strong recovery through the work of the local organization Cat Trap Fever Inc.
"I'm never the person who cries about letting one of my foster cats find its home," said Jessica Kelly-Heckman with the organization. "This will be one that I cry over."
PAKman already survived a high-risk surgery and even relied on a feeding tube to live for some time.
The neighborhood, where the crime took place, is home to unowned, outdoor cats and the community pitches in to help. Kelly-Heckman said she has since managed to spay and neuter at least 12 of them. PAKman will be adopted into a home by one of the neighbors and will be living indoors.
This animal cruelty cases is one of a number reported in the area in the last month alone.
A dog was thrown out of a car in Wimauma, killing most of her babies. In addition, three puppies were thrown out of a moving car in Tampa. Rescuers said one of the puppies was run over by a car and killed.
It prompted actor and former WWE wrestler Dave Bautista to donate a portion of the reward money. Both cases offer thousands of dollars for information leading to an arrest.
Kelly-Heckman and other rescuers said they've noticed an increase in abandonment and neglect cases in recent times.
She is thankful she could help PAKman before it was too late.
"I want him to know that there's always going to be food and he doesn't have to panic," she said.
Detectives are still looking for the person responsible for the crime. Local authorities are encouraging anyone with information on recent animal cruelty cases to contact them.