Pet Suffers Metal Pellet Attack

11 August 2013, 08:07 | Updated: 12 August 2013, 08:13

The RSPCA is appealing for information after a cat was shot in Dunstable - the fourth attack on a pet like this in 2013.

(picture courtesy: RSPCA).

Betty, a semi-longhaired black cat, returned to her home in Capron Road with a limp on last Sunday (5th August).

Her owner wasn’t sure what had happened to 5 year-old Betty so took her to Noah’s Ark vets in the town. 

It was then that x-rays revealed a metal pellet was lodged in her rear left leg.  Vets removed the pellet, which had missed the bone but caused tissue damage.  Betty is now recovering at home.

RSPCA inspector Stephanie Law told Heart: "Betty was extremely lucky not to have suffered a more serious injury after this horrible attack. She could have suffered a broken leg or worse - people who shoot at cats just don’t have any regard for the suffering they cause.

We now need to find out who was behind this so if anyone has any information at all, no matter how small, they need to get in touch on our inspector information line – 0300 123 8018."

There were 799 air weapon shootings reported to the RSPCA in 2012. Shocking figures show that for the first six months of 2013, 438 reports had already been received.

In Bedfordshire, there were six reported attacks in 2012 and there were already four reported incidents in the first six months of 2013.

This indicates that the overall figure for 2013 could be set to increase.

Anyone found to be deliberately injuring or killing a cat with an air weapon could face a maximum six months prison and/or a £20,000 fine.