Local News

MSPCA on the lookout for owner of cat found burned in Roslindale

The MSPCA is raising money for the cat’s recovery, which involves surgery and possibly skin grafting.

Shelter staff say that Dusty is a very cuddly and sweet cat. Courtesy/MSPCA-Angell

February 24, 2024

2 minutes to read

The MSPCA is searching for the owners of a cat that was discovered severely burned in a Roslindale parking lot.

An employee at the American Legion Highway Stop & Shop found the injured animal just before 11 p.m. on Feb. 11, according to the MSPCA.

The woman called Boston Animal Control, which instructed her to bring the cat immediately to Angell Animal Medical Center’s 24/7 emergency facility in Jamaica Plain.

The 10-month-old gray cat, whom the MSPCA is now calling Dusty, had wounds all over his body that veterinarians say are consistent with burns.

“We don’t know how Dusty was injured,” said Dr. Rebecca Fellman of the MSPCA’s Boston Adoption Center clinic. “When it’s cold out, cats on the street often climb in wheel wells or under car hoods to stay warm, so it’s possible that Dusty was hurt when an engine was started by a driver who didn’t even know he was there.”

The MSPCA said drivers should first bang on their vehicle’s hoods before starting their engines during cold weather to wake up any animals that may be hiding.

The MSPCA hopes to reunite Dusty with his owners. *Courtesy/MSPCA-Angell*

“Regardless of how Dusty was hurt, we’re now focused on helping him recover,” Fellman said.

The agency is now trying to raise money for Dusty’s treatment plan, which the MSPCA says will cost $5,000. The cat’s treatment plan involves managing his wounds with bandages so they’re healed enough to close surgically — and he may also need skin grafts. In the meantime, Dusty is taking antibiotics and pain medications.

“We expect Dusty’s recovery to take several weeks to months,” Fellman said. “He’s not out of the woods yet — he will need additional surgeries, and the severe wounds on a hind limb may result in amputation. But, we’re taking it day by day, and we’re optimistic that he’ll recover.”

Anyone interested in donating to the cat’s recovery can do so at mspca.org/dusty.

The agency is also hoping to track down Dusty’s human family. Anyone with information on Dusty’s owner can call the shelter at 617-522-5055.

“Dusty is an example of why it’s so critical that people microchip their pets,” said Corinne Bourgoin, shelter operations supervisor at the Boston Adoption Center. “It’s possible that there is a family out there desperate to find their beloved cat, but because he has no microchip, we don’t know how to find them. So, we’re asking the public for help. If you or someone you know owns this cat, please get in touch with us.”

If no owner steps forward, the MSPCA said it will place the cat with a new family once he’s recovered. The agency described him as “a sweet and friendly cat who will make a great addition to any family.”