United Kingdom: Owners of cat shot and stomped to death 'absolutely disgusted'

UNITED KINGDOM -- THE owners of a cat shot by an air rifle and fatally stomped on are "absolutely disgusted" by his killing.

Roger was shot outside a property in Wick Road, Great Bentley, at 11.30pm on Wednesday April 20.

His owners told the Chronicle: "On Thursday April 21 we realized that our cat Roger was missing. We spent several hours looking for him in the farm land that surrounds us, but could not find him.

"It was only when we checked our CCTV cameras that we realised what had happened to him. We were absolutely disgusted by the blatant uncaring manner in which Roger was killed and immediately phoned Essex police to report it.

"The following day we also contacted the RSPCA for their input. Both the police and the RSPCA responded in a very sympathetic manner and have taken the matter very seriously in view of the firearms that were involved.

"We put up the CCTV footage on Facebook and have been amazed by the response from our friends and neighbors. We are confident that the authorities will make sure that the people responsible are held to account and not allowed to do this to anyone else.

"If they can shoot a cat like this, what else are they capable of doing? Roger was a much loved pet for over 15 years and was a very big personality – he was exceedingly friendly, loyal and affectionate and will be very sorely missed by us all.

Warning: distressing video

"This experience has left us extremely angry that anyone could treat any animal like this and we would not want anyone else to have to go through this again. He did not deserve to die like this."

Officers suspect that Roger was shot with a .22 rifle, or similar.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Pc Rebecca Hanlon at Clacton police station on 101.

(essexchronicle.co.uk - May 6, 2016)

United Kingdom: Beloved family cat put down after being shot at with air rifle

UNITED KINGDOM -- The devastated owner of a cat which died after being shot with an air rifle has hit out at the callous people who attacked her pet.

Five-year-old Ruby was found dumped in a bush in the Ryde Lands area of Cranleigh on Tuesday night (March 22).

Kara Salvador, 33, said a neighbor knocked on her door at around 7.30pm asking if she knew anyone who owned a black and white cat.

She said she did and the neighbour said he had seen a Transit van with three people in it.

“He saw them get out of the van and one of them picked up Ruby and threw her in a bush,” Mrs Salvador said.

“When we found Ruby we thought she had been run over," she added.

"It wasn’t until we got to the vet and they took her for an X-ray that we realised she had a bullet in her spine from an air rifle.

“We had no choice but to put her down that evening. I then had to explain to my son in the morning what had happened, which was tough.”

Mrs Salvador reported the incident to the police and RSPCA, passing on the registration number of the silver Transit van seen in the area.

Speaking of the people who attacked her cat, she said: “They just treat it as a cat but to us she was a member of the family. I have got four children and my eldest is devastated.

"I‘m so angry and hurt, how can people do that to an animal? They have upset our children, especially our eight-year-old. They need to be found and get done [by the authorities].”

The cat owner said she had heard of other similar incidents happening recently in Cranleigh and Guildford.

In one incident in Bellfields, a cat was reported to have lost an eye.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: "We have had two reports from members of the public of cats being shot in Surrey - one in Guildford and one in Cranleigh.

"Sadly, we have also been made aware of a third incident.  Investigations are currently ongoing and we're working alongside Surrey Police, who are leading the enquiries.

"Anyone with any information on these incidents should call the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 123 8018, or contact police.

"We would like to remind people that anyone found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal could face a maximum six-month prison sentence and/or a fine of £20,000, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006."

(Get Surrey UK - March 25, 2016)

United Kingdom: Cat is shot twice in the head with air rifle - and survives

UNITED KINGDOM -- A cat named Ginger Nut is lucky to be alive after being shot twice in the head with an air rifle.

The animal lost his left eye in the attack and the pellets are still lodged in his skull.

The cat was taken in by a rescue charity after being found in distress by a resident in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire.

X-rays showed a pellet in his left eye - causing severe damage and an abscess - a vet had to remove it. Two shattered teeth also had to be taken out.

Caring for Cats, which prioritises the rescue of homeless stray and feral cats, said: “It is a callous individual who can shoot a defenceless animal like this.

“It has suffered greatly with these terrible wounds over a long period.

“This cruelty is also not likely to be an isolated incident. We dread to think how many other cats or wildlife have been victims and not survived. This tomcat has probably only survived because of his size and the higher bone density of unneutered adult males.”

The two pellets are still embedded in the cat’s skull and jaw bone because they cannot be safely removed.

Rose Atkin, the charity’s co-founder, said: “We want responsible cat owners in the Market Weighton area to be aware of the potential danger as a number of pet cats are said to be missing. We are talking to the local Police and the RSPCA about this and are urging anyone with information to come forward.”

The charity is also urging owners to take steps to reduce an incident like this occurring.

Ms Atkin said: “We always say cats should be kept indoors from dusk till dawn when most accidents and mischief happen. In high-risk areas, we would also advise installing cat-proof fencing or building a secure garden enclosure.”

Ginger Nut, who is believed to be aged between two and three, is unneutered and has no microchip.

He will continue to receive veterinary care at the charity until he is well enough to be rehomed.

Visit www.caring4cats.org for more information.

(yorkshirepost.co.uk - Feb 8, 2016)

Cat survives aftering being shot in neck with air rifle; authorities searching for suspect

UNITED KINGDOM -- A PET cat is lucky to be alive after being shot in the neck with an air rifle.

Black and white cat Ernie was rushed to a vet after his owner spotted a pellet wound when the animal returned home.

The RSPCA is now appealing for information about the incident, which happened in the Steyning area.

 

Vets were able to remove the pellet from two-year-old Ernie’s neck and he is now recovering at his home in Chanctonbury Ring Road, Wiston.

Owner Ben Foord, 31, a plumber, said:”The vet said he was really lucky because the pellet did not go in too deeply.

“He is fine now but it could have been a lot more serious.

“He is a friendly, lovely cat. Although he is a little bit cautious with strangers, he might approach if they tried to encourage him to come over.

“I just want to warn people about this happening and let the RSPCA and police know if they are aware of any similar incidents in the area.”

Mr Foord and his wife Hannah, 31, have only had Ernie for about three months. They got him from a rescue centre along with a ginger and white cat called Bert.

Mr Foord said: “We live in a rural area and they do go out and about although Ernie is the more adventurous. However he may be better off sticking closer to home for a while.”

Ernie's wound

RSPCA inspector Kate Barnes said: “This is a very concerning incident and is extremely traumatic for both Ernie and his owner.

“At the moment we know very little about when and why this has happened, and who shot poor Ernie. We urge anybody with any information to come forward."

She added: “Ernie must have suffered terribly but in some ways he had a lucky escape. Many cats shot in this way are fatally wounded and do not survive.”

Anyone with further information about the incident, which happened on July 21, should call the RSPCA inspector appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

(The Argus - July 30, 2015)

Vets fight to save cat after it is shot by air rifle

UNITED KINGDOM -- A FAMILY pet had to have emergency surgery at the weekend after a bullet from an air rifle punctured a number of its internal organs.

It is believed that four-year-old cat Oscar was shot near the family home in Southern Cross in Wixams village at some point on Thursday (October 2) after his owners Verity and Martin Mason-McLeod, returned home to find him injured.

Verity, 29, said: "At first we wondered if he'd trodden on some barbed wire or if he had been bitten but there was only one hole and the wound was fairly clean.

"He didn't want to eat and just sat in his bed which is really unlike him."

The couple, who also own another cat called Alfie, 4, took Oscar to Scott's Veterinary Clinic in Goldington Road, Bedford, where he was given medication to treat any infection which could have been caused by the wound and sent home.

When he deteriorated the next day they rushed him back to the vets where he underwent emergency surgery on Friday night.

During the operation Verity says vets discovered Oscar had in fact been shot, with the pellet from the air rifle travelling through his bladder and intestine.

Luckily Oscar pulled through and is 'over the worst' but is currently still being kept at Scott's to avoid him contracting any infections.

Verity said: "He doesn't normally go far. Whenever we get home he comes straight away when we call him which makes this even more distressing because we know it has happened so close to home."

The couple has reported the incident to Bedfordshire Police who are encouraging anyone who may have seen what happened, or have any information about the incident, to call them on the non-emergency number 101.

(Bedforshire News - Oct 7, 2014)

Swan shot twice through head with CROSSBOW makes miracle recovery and is freed into wild

UNITED KINGDOM -- Two bolts passed through the bird's skull and neck but feathered fighter managed to regain fitness after talented vets performed emergency surgery

A swan found with crossbow bolts embedded in its head is set to return to its natural habitat - just three weeks after being found with horrific injuries.

The swan was caught by a RSPCA officers on a canal near Widnes, Cheshire, on June 18.

They attended after distressed calls from the public who saw the stricken bird on the water.

One of the bolts had gone through the swan’s windpipe, leaving him needing an air sac intubation to help him breathe.

The injured bird had also been shot several times with an air rifle.

The adult male was taken to Village Vets in Woolton, Liverpool, where vets carried out an emergency operation on him.

He was transferred into RSPCA care at Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre to recuperate.

 

The injured bird can now swim and feed itself and has been mixing with other swans at the centre near Nantwich.

Cheshire police are continuing investigations into the gross act of cruelty and have asked people in Widnes to "search their conscience" if they have any information about the culprits.

(Mirror UK - July 8, 2014)

West Fork Man Shoots Neighbor’s Dog In Head, Gets Probation

ARKANSAS -- A West Fork man was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to shooting his neighbor’s dog in the head with an air rifle, according to the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office.

Michael Allen Parks, 52, was sentenced in Washington County Circuit Court to one year of probation and 30 days of community service. He was also fined $500 and ordered to pay court costs in the case, said deputy prosecutor Denis Dean.

Parks reached a plea deal with prosecutors in which his initial charges, felony aggravated cruelty to a dog and misdemeanor cruelty to an animal, were reduced to a charge of misdemeanor cruelty to an animal, Dean said.

The suspect was arrested last summer after his neighbor told police Parks shot her Redbone hound named Lucy in the head with an air rifle after the dog ran onto his property

The neighbor said she was riding her horse near Parks’ property when her dog ran past an invisible barrier separating her property from Parks’. Lucy the dog ran up to Parks’ fence, after which Parks went into his home and came out with an air rifle, reaching it over the fence and shooting the dog in the head, Dean said.

The dog was injured, but animal doctors were able to treat the bloody puncture wound and heal the dog, according to the prosecutor.

(5NewsOnline - Feb 28, 2014)

Cat shot near Irthlingborough home

UNITED KINGDOM -- A pet owner is appealing for help tracing those responsible for shooting at her cat.

Dillon was injured after leaving the house in Irthlingborough for just a few minutes on February 3.

The black cat returned home with a wound, which has needed several operations and left the animal on painkillers and antibiotics as he recovers.

Owner Katy Cosham said: “He came back with a wound between his shoulder and back leg. He was only out for a few minutes.

“At first I thought it was a cat fight but because it was deep, I rang the vet straight away to see what they thought about it. They told me to take him straight down there.

“His heart rate was racing and he was so distressed. The vet told me he had been shot.”

She added: “Fortunately he was shot from a distance, and the bullet didn’t actually go into him. He’s a very lucky cat.”

But Dillon has had to have a further operation this week and still has to wear a collar.

Katy said four-year-old Dillon normally goes out for hours so it was out of character for him to return home so quickly.

She said: “I am devastated that such cruelty could be inflicted on such a loving cat.

“Since the shooting Dillon has had operations and is now on lots of medication, and is very traumatised. I would ask anyone who has information to contact the police.”

A police spokesman said they were investigating the incident, which is believed to have been carried out with an air rifle.

Any witnesses or anyone with information about it is asked to call police on 101.

(Northants Telegraph - Feb 14, 2014)

"Sorry I shot that 12-year-old boy in the head. I was actually aiming for the pigeons"

UNITED KINGDOM -- JOBLESS Lewis Ball shot a 12-year-old boy in the head after firing an air gun in one of Stoke-on-Trent's biggest parks.

The 21-year-old was shooting pigeons when he hit the schoolboy with a pellet at Tunstall Park.

Magistrates have warned Ball that the youngster could have been blinded in the incident.

POS kills animals when he's 'bored'

They have banned Ball from having any kind of firearm for three years and ordered him to pay £100 compensation to his victim.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the defendant bought the 0.22 calibre air rifle at a Hanley shop and took it to the park to shoot at birds 'because he was bored'.

But Ball claimed one of his shots went astray after being 'caught in the wind' and hit the boy behind his right ear.

Ball was later arrested and admitted possessing an air weapon in a public place and assault.

Rachel Mason, representing the defendant, said: "He thought this weapon could be fired in any open space.

"It was a very unfortunate accident and he should have realised what he was doing. After the incident the defendant could have walked away as he was some 100 metres away, but he immediately went over to the young boy to try to assist him."

The court heard Ball, of Westbourne Drive, Tunstall, had now got rid of the gun and was trying to get a job.

Magistrates also handed Ball a 12-month community order with supervision and ordered him to complete 100 hours unpaid work. The defendant must also pay £85 costs.

Magistrate Paul Findley told Ball: "You are very lucky. If your shot had been three inches to the right you would have been looking at five years in prison and a blinded victim.

"Firing air guns at pigeons is not acceptable and hitting young children accidentally is not acceptable. You should not be firing any kind of implement in a public place."

Volunteers trying to improve the park have been left shocked by the August 17 incident.

Joy Garner, of Greenbank Road, Tunstall, who is a member of the management committee at Tunstall Floral Hall within the park, said: "This was totally irresponsible. I'm shocked that somebody thought it was normal to go into a public place and shoot at our wildlife.

"An air rifle can be a lethal weapon – it could've taken out the lad's eye or hit him on the temple and killed him.

"You should not be able to have an air rifle without some kind of certificate."

(stokesentinel.co.uk - Nov 13, 2013)