BALDWIN PARK – A cat found clinging to life with its head and paws wrapped in tape and left inside a box outside a Baldwin Park animal shelter last was placed into a foster home Wednesday, officials said.
“Amigo,” as he’s come to be known by staff at the Baldwin Park office of the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control after he was found in the agency’s parking lot Friday, is doing well and making strides toward recovery, DACC officials said in a written statement.
The domestic medium hair, which officials previously said appeared to be 2-years-old but was described more recently as 1 year old, was placed into the hands of an “adoption partner” who will oversee Amigo’s continued recovery before the animal can be placed with a permanent home.
A DACC officer discovered an abandoned box in the Baldwin Park DACC office’s parking lot, looked inside and discovered Amigo struggling to breathe, DACC spokeswoman Evelina Villa said. The cat’s head, including its mouth and nose, as well as it’s paws had been wrapped in red duct tape.
But after freeing the animal and removing the tape, Amigo appeared traumatized, but physically okay, she said.
“The traumatic experience has clearly affected Amigo and he will likely require special care for the rest of his life,” DACC Director Marcia Mayeda said. “We are grateful to the adoption partner who stepped forward to take on the task of rehabilitating and socializing Amigo so that he will make a wonderful family pet one day.”
An investigation into who left the cat at the shelter was ongoing.