A tiny kitten that survived the loss of its right eye after being shot in the head by a pellet gun has been adopted from Helen Woodward Animal Center. “Wilbur” was abandoned in a cardboard box on the evening of May 20. Following rapid recovery from surgery to remove the eye the kitten was adopted within hours after becoming available for adoption.
HWAC spokesman John Van Zante says, “We received dozens of calls from families interested in Wilbur’s condition and the possibility of adopting him. When he became available for adoption he was snatched up almost immediately by Oliver and Diane, a couple that lives in the University Heights area of San Diego.”
Van Zante reminds the public that animal abandonment is considered to be a form of abuse. Animal abuse is punishable by a fine of up to $20,000 as well as imprisonment.
“There are lots of kittens available right now at animal shelters throughout the county. Whether you have kittens you can’t keep or if you want to get a kitten, visit a shelter.”
For more information about orphaned pets in need of families log on to www.animalcenter.org, call 858-756-4117, or visit Helen Woodward Animal Center at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe.
Wilbur's Story
SAN DIEGO - San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a horrific case of animal cruelty.
Someone shot a seven week old kitten in the face with a pellet gun.
The kitten is named Wilbur.
He was abandoned last Wednesday night at the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe after the facility closed.
"The pellet was shot right below his eye, through his sinus cavity, it narrowly missed his left eye and it embedded in his left cheek,” said John Van Zante.
Van Zante is a spokesman for the Helen Woodward Animal Center.
A veterinarian at the center removed the pellet from Wilbur’s right eye yesterday. The pellet shattered the eyeball, so Wilbur can now only see through his left eye.
Despite his frightening ordeal Wilbur is amazingly resilient.
"He has a little bit of a problem with depth perception on the cat tree. Part of that could be the eye and part of that could be he's just a baby kitten,” said Van Zante.
The loss of an eye may not have an impact on Wilbur as he gets older.
"He may not remember having full sight, for Wilbur that will be normal," said Labeth Thompson.
Thompson is the adoptions manager at the center.
The center has surveillance video which shows a couple dropping off the kitten at the center after hours.
The video shows a gray two door car pulling up to the facility around 8 o’clock in the evening.
"A man gets out and walks up to the employee entrance here and checks things out,” said Van Zante.
A few minutes later he's joined by a woman carrying the kitten in a box.
She dumps Wilbur at the entrance, the couple embrace, then they take off.
Deputies are now reviewing eight minutes of footage for any clues that could lead to arrest.
Abandoning an animal at a shelter can result in jail time and fines up to $20,000 but Van Zante doesn’t know if the couple is responsible for Wilbur’s injury which could bring felony charges.
Animal cruelty has been a felony in California since 1988 and carries a maximum jail term of three years.
