Rescuer rushed injured cat to ER fearing a car accident — but the X-ray of his leg revealed something far more cruel

In a Facebook post that reached more than 10,000 people, the organization wrote: 'Brewster Needs You.'

PUBLISHED 2 HOURS AGO

(L) A man petting a tuxedo cat. (R) A vet checking a pet cat's X-ray. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Boris SV, (R) dima_sidelnikov)

What started as a simple kind gesture by a concerned neighbor quickly turned into a much more serious situation. In July 2025, a good Samaritan spotted an injured stray cat and rushed him to a nearby emergency vet clinic. According to the reports, the cat, later named Brewster, seemed to be in pain, and it was first believed he had been hit by a car. But what the vet discovered next shocked everyone.

Cute tuxedo stray cat resting next to a parked car. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Lightspruch)

X-rays revealed that Brewster hadn’t been in a car accident; instead, he had been shot. Newsweek reported that the injury left his front leg badly fractured, and without someone stepping in, he would likely have faced euthanasia. Luckily, that’s when North Shore Animal League America got involved. In a Facebook post that reached more than 10,000 people, they wrote: "URGENT RESCUE ALERT: Brewster Needs You. Brewster's life nearly ended before it had a chance to begin." They explained that Brewster had no one to cover the cost of his care, and his only chance was a rescue willing to act fast.

Female vet doctors are examining a domestic cat. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | ArtistGNDphotography)

The organization first brought Brewster to their Adirondack campus before transferring him to their main facility in Port Washington, New York. There, a medical team quickly began treatment to stabilize his condition. "They are working urgently to stabilize him and explore every option before turning to amputation as a last resort," the post explained. The rescue stressed their commitment to Brewster’s recovery, saying, "Brewster suffered for days, but we are committed to his care and his comfort. His recovery will take time, medical expertise, and critical resources. All of which we're committed to providing for this sweet, handsome boy." Thanks to the efforts of a caring neighbor and a determined rescue team, Brewster’s story didn’t end the day he was found; it actually began.

Cat getting an X-ray done. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by FXQuadro) — Cat getting an X-ray done. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | FXQuadro)

Many internet users flooded the comment section of the viral post with concerned responses and praises for the shelter. Carol A. Tomczyk-Sadowski shared, "Poor Brewster! Who the hell could shoot a poor cat! I hope the perpetrator is caught and serves some serious jail time and is fined heavily for this horrible abuse! Brewster is a handsome Tuxie cat with a cute face! Hope he heals up just fine and gets his forever home as soon as possible!" Mary Toto expressed, "Horrific, infuriating! Such a beautiful little guy! Thank you all immensely for all you do every single day. Blessings to this precious soul."

Abi Mae shared her personal experience, "Aww, sweet baby. You are trusted to do what's best in this situation! One of my dogs had her leg amputated just a week before I adopted her, under similar circumstances. They deserve so much better than this." Unfortunately, what Brewster went through is not uncommon. According to a 2024 statistical report by Shelter Animals Count, it is estimated that about one animal suffers from abuse every minute somewhere in the U.S. Each year, around 10 million animals die due to abuse or cruelty, highlighting the ongoing need for stronger protection and awareness across the country.

For more animal rescue content and adoption inquiries, follow North Shore Animal League America on its Facebook page.