A FAMILY’S much-loved cat was shot with an air rifle, leaving him so badly injured he had to be put down.
Tom the tabby was found by a seven-year-old girl in Chard Drive in Luton on Thursday.
The 15-year-old cat was unable to move and when his owners took him to the vet they found he had been disabled by three air rifle pellets lodged in the rear of his body.
The owner, who does not wish to be named for fear of reprisal, said: “It was absolutely awful. My husband went to get him from next door’s garden where their little girl had found him and he was obviously in a lot of distress. We took him straight to the vet, thinking he had been run over and broken his legs. It was a bit of a shock to see the X-ray with three pellets in him.
“I’ve never heard of this happening before which is why we reported it to the police. We don’t want this to happen to another cat. It is really cruel.”
The family adopted Tom as a kitten 15 years ago from the RSPCA, and the children grew up with him.
The owner said: “It’s been very distressing for all our family. In some ways if he had been run over it would have been easier to deal with, but for someone to have actually shot him, it’s hard to come to terms with that.
“If anyone does know anything please contact the police. If someone is sick enough to shoot a cat who knows what they might do next? If the police can take the rifle away from them that will give them less opportunity.”
It is thought Tom was shot between 9am-4pm somewhere near Chard Drive as he couldn’t have moved far.
PC Carl Perri, investigating, said: “Shooting pets with air rifles is not a piece of harmless fun. It’s terribly cruel and often results in a painful death for the animal or, at best, expensive vet bills for the owners. It’s also a criminal offence which may carry a heavy fine or even custody for the culprits.”
Anyone who saw or knows of anyone in the vicinity with an air weapon should contact PC Perri. You do not have to give your name but could still receive a cash reward.
Contact PC Perri on the non-emergency number 101, or call Crimestoppers, the independent charity, on 0800 555111.