Severely Burned Cat 'Dusty' Found In Boston Stop & Shop Parking Lot

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is looking to find the owners of a 10-month-old cat found with severe burns in a Stop & Shop parking lot in Roslindale earlier this month.

The gray cat — which the MSPCA is calling "Dusty" — was found by an employee leaving the store at about 11 p.m. on Feb. 11. The cat was brought to Angell Animal Medical Center in Jamaica Plain for emergency care.

"We don’t know how Dusty was injured," said Dr. Rebecca Fellman, who is part of the team treating Dusty at 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 recommends that people bang on car hoods before starting engines during cold weather to wake up any animals that may be hiding.

The MSPCA is now looking for the owner of the cat, which was not microchipped.

"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."

If an owner is not found, Dusty will be put up for adoption after he recovers. Fellman said that recovery will take "several weeks to months" as he faces surgery once his wounds have healed sufficiently for him to handle it.

"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," Fellman said. "But, we're taking it day by day and we're optimistic that he'll recover."

The MSPCA expects Dusty’s care to cost up to $5,000, depending on whether he will need amputation and skin grafts. Those who would like to donate to help offset that cost may do so here.

Anyone with information on Dusty's owner is asked to call the shelter at 617-522-5055.

"If no owner steps forward, we'll place Dusty with a new loving family when he's more fully recovered," Bourgoin said.

Bourgoin said Dusty is "a sweet and friendly cat who will make a great addition to any family."

The MSPCA will post updates on Dusty's recovery and adoption status on its social media pages.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)