RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KRON) — Southern California animal officials are investigating a vicious attack on an opossum that miraculously survived being shot through the head and body with arrows from an apparent crossbow.
Riverside County Department of Animal Services said a caller reported the wounded creature at the intersection of Hole and Jones avenues in a residential area of Riverside.
“The animal was very alert and you could tell it was trying to remove the arrows itself,” the department’s Sgt. Cynthia Lee said in the statement.
The marsupial underwent surgery is recovering, the department said. Officials released graphic photos that show the opossum before the arrows were removed.
“We have launched cruelty investigation into this sick act; even more shocking: our vet did surgery; opossum survived,” RivCO animalSERVICES said on their Twitter page.
“No animal, whether its a domesticated dog or cat, or a part of our wildlife, deserves to be treated in such a cruel manner,” said the department’s director, Robert Miller, who encouraged possible witnesses to come forward. “This is a sick act.”
