Shelter: City Councilman Stephen Levin Rescued Pregnant, Abused Cat From BQE
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A New York City Councilman was credited Monday with rescuing a pregnant cat from the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.
It was later discovered that the cat had been shot with a gun.
Councilman Stephen Levin (D-33rd) -- who represents the Brooklyn sections of Williamsburg, Greenpoint, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill, and Parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant – caught the cat from the busy highway this past weekend, according to the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition.
He was scratched in the process of rescuing the stray cat, but was able to catch her successfully, the shelter said.
Levin took the cat to the shelter, located at 253 Wythe Ave. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. A veterinarian discovered that the cat had been shot, and the bullet was still lodged in her right hip, the shelter said.
Further examination revealed that the cat was pregnant, the shelter said. The unborn kittens appeared to be safe.
It was also determined that the cat had been abused for years, and new and old wounds and scars were discovered, the shelter said. The cat's paw pads had been ripped off, and her toes were badly bruised, the shelter said.
The shelter named the pregnant cat Loretta. She was recovering from surgery as of Monday night, and will be available for adoption once she is fully recovered and gives birth to her litter.
The shelter is also accepting donations to Loretta's surgery fund at its website, or at (718) 486-7489.
