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Animal shelters know that black cats are targets around Halloween - so they try to keep them safe from adoption over the holiday. But unfortunately, they can't protect all of them from senseless pranks. One innocent black feline survived a sick acid attack by an unknown assailant over the weekend, and is now under the care of rescuers at the Alpharetta Animal Hospital in Alpharetta, Ga.

Nicknamed Sweetie Pie, the 8-week-old Persian long-hair mix was found outside an apartment complex on Oct. 31 by local resident Genesis Burroughs, who heard distressed purring. Burroughs brought the injured feline into her home, but knew that the cat's injuries were more than she could handle, medically and financially. So, she called out for help by putting an ad up on CraigsList.com.

Allison Wenum, a volunteer with the Georgia-based Peach State Pet Partners rescue group, came to her rescue the following day, after seeing the ad. Wenum sought assistance through fellow volunteer, Deborah Smith-Callahan, who was equally anxious to get Sweetie Pie proper care.

"It was pretty shocking when we saw how bad the injuries were," Smith-Callahan tells PEOPLEPets.com. "At the same time, the kitten did not appear to be in a terrible amount of discomfort."

Upon close examination, it appears that the perpetrators used a corrosive liquid to paint a devil-like mask on the cat. But despite the horrific damage and ill-will, this feline has not lost faith in the love and comfort of those around her. Rather than fighting her caretakers and keeping her distance from those who want to help, Sweetie has embraced her keepers, offering sweet head butts and allowing others to pet her.

"She seemed to know that we wanted to help her," Smith-Callahan says. "She is happiest when someone's holding her and fussing over her."

After satisfying a ravenous appetite and refueling with food and water, Sweetie Pie (shown above with receptionist Rhoda Toby) is now at the Alpharetta Animal Hospital, on the mend with a course of antibiotics, and will remain under observation for the next few days.

Smith-Callahan and Sweetie Pie's vets are hopeful that the young lady will not have any chronic, ongoing medical conditions. Unfortunately, she will never be able to re-grow the hair on her face. And, because of a lack of funds, no reward has been raised to find the person who injured her.

But don't think that this feisty feline will live out her life in an animal shelter. Smith-Callahan has already received numerous calls from potential adoptive parents. But the sweet-natured cat will have to wait a little longer before moving into her new home. Vets would like to see her stabilize and well on the road to recovery before sending her home.

If you'd like to assist in Sweetie Pie's medical coverage, donations can be made through the Peach State Pet Partner's official site here.

Thanks to the kindness of a stranger and active volunteers in the community, Sweetie Pie will get a new lease on life with a family. But Sweetie is not alone in her struggles. She is simply one of many special needs animals that PSPP care for — all are wonderfully loving and caring pets who deserve a happy home, too.

The rescue group encourages people to be stay mindful of stray animals in your community. "Take some responsibility when [you] see cats or kittens living outside," Smith-Callahan says. "Think about what [you] can do to help, and seek resources to really make a difference."

See more amazing survival stories on PEOPLEPets.com:
Andre the Dog Is Out on Some Fancy New Limbs
Pit Bull Pups Abandoned in Dumpster Bounce Back After Rescue

Karen J. Quan