Five days after the incident and the youngster was finally reunited with his best friend. Yes, he had lost a leg because of the incident, but this little cat still has many lives and loads of love to help him in his recovery.
Johannesburg, South Africa (17 February 2021) – It’s a story that shocked a community… a teen was left distraught after his cat was tragically shot with a pellet gun, but the community rallied around him to offer love support during his trauma.
Jason Lee, the founder and owner of Goonga Peri-Peri Sauce, was heartbroken on the 12th of February 2021 after finding their cat with a horrid pellet gun wound in his shoulder.
“I almost lost my faith in humanity today. I saw the poor Hadedah with an arrow in his wing last week. Was horrified. Today it happened to my family. My cat was shot with a pellet gun by an angry neighbour who hates cats – still working out which neighbour. I don’t love Parktown Prawns, but I suck it up, catch them and throw them into the garden. Our Archie cat is half dog half cat; he follows us everywhere. Loves everything, doesn’t fight with other cats, even plays with dogs.”
Someone shot the little cat shattering his shoulder bone, and now he will walk around with three legs for the rest of his life.
“Why did I only almost lose my faith in humanity? Because of the number of people that have walked in and out of my house today to console my kids. Phone calls. Messages. Offers of assistance.”
After many neighbours in the Paulshof community heard about the incident, they came to the family’s rescue.
“Watching my son sob uncontrollably, half because he loves Archie and half because he doesn’t understand what human could do something like that, was the hardest part. But most people are good. Only some are bad.”
The post instantly went viral throughout the community with thousands of people sharing the tragic news all over social media and even in private messages.
The narrative? “We need to support this kid and help this cat. We need to be better and teach each other love, especially in this global pandemic. We need more kindness.”
Five days later, and Lee’s son was finally reunited with his best friend. Yes, he had lost a leg, but this little kitty still has many lives and loads of love to help him in his recovery.
“My son and Archie were reunited today and both equally ecstatic to see each other – he even bought him some treats for when he sees him.
Archie will still be climbing trees and catching birds soon. He’s a bit subdued and still learning to balance, but apparently, it will happen quickly. I’m still a bit confused about what happened, but he is well looked after here.”
Mahatma Gandhi said that “the greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated”, and even though one person in Paulshof may not care for animals, there is a whole community in the greater Fourways that do.
The person in Paulshof who shot the cat has still not been identified – if you have any information, please contact the Lee family by emailing jason@goongafoods.co.za.
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