Fury after cat shot with air rifle (From Tewkesbury Admag)
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Fury after cat shot with air rifle
10:19am Thursday 28th May 2009 in Evesham Vale By Daniel Fawbert Mills
Little Man had to have surgery to get the pellet removed
AN Evesham woman whose cat was lucky to escape death after it was shot with an air rifle has branded the shooter ‘sick’, and warned the pellet could have hit a child.
Sarah Hammond, who lives near Briar Close in the town centre, said she was left distraught after finding her cat, Little Man, in a distressed state and with a massive lump on the side of his body.
Reduced to tears, Ms Hammond believed the cat, just a year old, had developed an aggressive form of cancer which would signal the end of his young life.
She said: “I first noticed something was wrong as he was really jumpy and scared, and would run and hide at the slightest noise.
“We found a lump on the side of his tummy, on his ribs, and the vet confirmed my worst fears when he said he thought it was a tumour.
“I was in tears, it was very distressing. I thought this would be the last time I would ever see him.
“The vet did an x-ray just in case, which is when we discovered the air rifle pellet embedded in his rib muscles.
“According to the vet the pellet was very deep, and it was lucky it didn’t go into his lungs.
She added: “I think the person who shot this pellet is sick, it’s completely out of order.
“If anyone knows who did this, I would like them to come forward because if this pellet came through the fence it could have been a child that it hit.”
Four cats were killed after a spate of poisonings in Honeybourne in the last few weeks, and West Mercia Police are refusing to rule out a connection.
“A spokesman said: “This lady has been left extremely distressed by what appeared to be the action of a mindless individual.
“Anyone found to have caused injury to the cat, or any other animal, will be dealt with by officers.
“No direct link is being made to the deaths of cats in Honeybourne, however, anyone with information about any of these incidents is urged to call us on 0300 333 3000.”
