Lucy, a 12-week old kitten who was shot and left in a Southeast Portland Dumpster, is undergoing surgery after being found on May 28 and brought to the Oregon Humane Society.

JUNE 11 UPDATE: 'Everybody wants to adopt' Lucy; kitten's surgery next week

UPDATED: 3:25 p.m. A kitten found in a Southeast Portland Dumpster two weeks ago is undergoing surgery to remove a bullet or pellet from her cheek, the Oregon Humane Society said.

Lucy, a 12-week-old kitten, was found in a Dumpster in the parking lot of an apartment building in the 2200 block of Southeast 96th Avenue on May 28 and brought to OHS, the society said in a news release.

OHS and the Animal Legal Defense Fund are offering a $5,000 reward for information about the person responsible for shooting and abandoning the kitten.

Lucy was shot twice in the head and neck, likely by an air rifle or .22-caliber firearm, OHS said. The shot to her head caused related brain trauma.

"In cases involving such a young animal with possible neurological damage we must remain cautious, but we are optimistic that Lucy will make a full recovery," Jacqueline Blanchette, OHS lead veterinarian, said in the news release.

The kitten was wrapped in a pair of garbage bags and left in the Dumpster for an unknown amount of time after being shot, OHS said.

OHS spokesman David Lytle said about 40 percent of all animals the society takes in need treatment of some sort. OHS judges pets' incoming health on a scale that deems them healthy, treatable-rehabilitatable, treatable-manageable, or unhealthy and untreatable, Lytle said.

OHS took in 11,159 cats and dogs in 2014, according to data provided by OHS.

Of the 274 unhealthy and untreatable pets that OHS took in during 2014, 132 were euthanized, according to the data. An additional 899 pets whose owners requested euthanasia and were deemed unhealthy and untreatable were euthanized in 2014, according to the data.

Lytle said Lucy had lost a lot of blood and that she wasn't in as bad of shape as OHS personnel had initially feared.

"Twelve-week-old kittens are healing machines," Lytle said.

Lucy, shown after she was removed from a Dumpster on May 28, is undergoing surgery at the Oregon Humane Society.

OHS urges anyone who has more information about Lucy's shooting or abandonment to leave OHS a message at 503-285-7722, extension 214.

"The person who did this horrible act to Lucy could be a danger to other animals as well as to people," Sharon Harmon, OHS executive director, said. "We hope the public will share any information they have with our investigators to help solve this case."

-- Jim Ryan

503-221-8005

@Jimryan015