Riverside County Department of Animal Services were amazed by the opossum's survival after it was found trying to remove the arrows near an intersection in the city's La Sierra neighborhood.
The arrows, described in news release from the department as 'crossbow arrows', struck the marsupial the the side of its body and near its right eye.
Animal officials responded to the scene after a caller reported the wounded animal's location.
'The animal was very alert and you could tell it was trying to remove the arrows itself,' the department of animal services's Sgt Cynthia Lee said in the statement.
'The opossum was grabbing the arrow on its side. What a horrible thing to do to an animal,' she added.
Animal Control Officer Jennifer Selter took the opossum to the county’s Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley, where a staff veterinarian immediately began surgery.
The opossum survived the surgery and is now recovering at the animal hospital.
Animal Services Director Robert Miller said the act that occurred was despicable.
'No animal, whether it's a domesticated dog or cat, or a part of our wildlife, deserves to be treated in such a cruel manner,' Miller said. 'Anyone who has any information about who might have done this are encouraged to contact us. This is a sick act.'
The city's department of animal services has began an animal cruelty investigation into the incident.
Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to contact the Riverside County Department of Animal Services by phone at (951)358-7387 or online at rcdas.org
(Daily Mail - Jan 23, 2016)
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