Published date: 05 January 2017 |
Published by: Amy SargesonRead more articles by Amy Sargeson Email reporter
Cats are under attack in Flint with several suffering horrific injuries after being shot with an air rifle and others in Shotton are dying after being poisoned.
In the latest attack by an airgun sniper, Tina Lane of Albert Avenue in Flint received a call on Monday from the RSPCA regarding her cat Jester who had been found with severe injuries.
The RSPCA took the silver-spotted Bengal feline to Village Vets in Buckley where vets confirmed that his back legs became paralysed after the shooting and found a pellet in his spine.
Jester’s family are deeply worried as he has been undergoing veterinary care this week to try and save him.
He has now been transferred to another veterinary hospital in Neston to assist in removing the bullet.
Mrs Lane said: “The vets have been closed since Jester was shot so I only found out on Monday.
“He is loved by all the neighbours and often wanders off to other people’s houses so I didn’t think anything of him going missing.
“All our cats are very friendly and always visit the neighbours. I was absolutely horrified when I found out someone could do this to our family pet.
“The suspect must be close to home because Jester was found close to where we live and he was paralysed so wouldn’t have been able to move very far.
“It is disgusting that this keeps happening in our town. There is some vile people out there. People shouldn’t even be allowed these guns.
“If the vets cannot improve Jester’s movement, he will have to be put to sleep. It’s heartbreaking for the whole family.”
The incident follows reports of another suspected shooting in the Min Awel area of Flint in December.
Linda Worrall, of Min Awel, was devastated to find her cat had been shot a few months after her neighbour Barbara Masters, as reported in the Leader, lost her cat Athena when bullets from an air rifle punctured her lungs and severely damaged other internal organs.
Mrs Worrall said: “Our cat Alice had been carrying a pellet in her for about three months. I have lost two cats over a period of eight years, one was found dead close to my home and the other collapsed from being poisoned and died at the vets.
“Alice thankfully survived. My son took her to the vets because her coat had become such a mess. That’s when the vet found the pellet in her neck.
“All I can say is I wish whoever has done this will be caught. We as neighbours of Min Awel believe the culprit is very local to our area with so many cats being shot.”
A spokesman for the RPSCA confirmed the organisation is investigating the incidents.
Kia Thomas, RSPCA inspector, said: “Poor Jester has suffered a truly terrible ordeal, with his back legs badly impacted by this pellet gun incident. We just hope his condition improves.
“While many people were getting ready to welcome in the New Year across North Wales, it is unthinkable why somebody would look to shoot a cat in this way.
“This sorry incident is another timely reminder as to the shocking damage a pellet gun can do.
“Another shooting incident is understood to have taken place in the Min Awel area of Flint recently, so we are very concerned.
“The circumstances behind Jester’s shooting are not clear.”
Tina Lane added: “The local community have been hugely supportive to us after the shooting and we hope information will come to light to help find out what has happened.”
n The shootings follow several fatal poisonings in Shotton.
Cat owner Paula Pynenburg, who lives on Mill View Road, was one of those left devastated after her cat Max had to be put down following the suspected poisoning.
The incident, on December 29, came after it had been reported to the RSPCA that another cat on the same street may have been the victim of poisoning two weeks previously and had to be put to sleep by an independent vet.
Max’s owner said: “Max was an independent cat but when he came home he’d had a complete change in character.
“He was lethargic, wobbly and wouldn’t eat his favourite food.
“We took him to our local vet who said he’d been poisoned and he was in complete renal failure.
“What people don’t understand is that cats are a member of the family and we will deeply miss Max.
“This was a cruel way for him to go.”
The RSPCA is now appealing for any information in relation to these two incidents as well as the shootings.
Anyone with information is asked to come forward and contact the RSPCA inspectorate information line on 0300 123 8018.
Calls will be treated in confidence.
http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/170965/cats-under-attack-in-flint-after-shootings-and-poisonings.aspx
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