GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A bullet hasn't slowed down a local cat named Willy.
The young black cat had a "severely injured eye" and was turned over by a "good Samaritan" to the Humane Society of West Michigan last Thursday, according to the nonprofit last night.
Willy was left on the good Samaritan's porch in a box, with no information.
Humane Society staff "comforted" Willy and gave him antibiotics and pain medication.
On Saturday, a veterinarian performed an emergency surgery to remove the affected eye. During the surgery, a lump was found on Willie's neck, which they determined was a bullet.
"Willy's eye injuries were the result of a gunshot," the Humane Society said.
"So somebody had shot him, and it went in through his eye, ruptured his eyeball and lodged in his neck," said Holly Guild, executive director, Humane Society of West Michigan.
Being without his left eye "may affect him a little bit," Guild said.
"But even with his cone on, he jumps up and down off of things, so it’s not going to affect his quality of life at all," she said.
Guild called Willy "the sweetest cat." He was "lovingly" named after one-eyed Willy in the 1985 movie "The Goonies."
"He’ll be available for adoption as soon as we can re-open," she said.
Willy is "truly a fighter," the Humane Society said.
"He has been nothing less than affectionate and trusting throughout his care and has been a light for staff in difficult times," they said.
Willy was found in the area of 8th and Lincoln, as well as Country Lane and Johnson. If you have information about what happened to Willy, you can contact Guild at hguild@hswestmi.org.
The Humane Society of West Michigan also said that people can give to its Buddy Fund to help give animals with extreme needs specialized medical or behavioral care.
