Pet cat shot with airgun (From Oxford Mail)

Pet cat shot with airgun

1:20pm Saturday 20th December 2008 in News By Chris Kearney

Katie Hart with her son Daniel and cat Crunch

A pet owner whose cat was shot at point blank range with an air rifle has called for a clampdown on the weapons.

Kate Hart was already coming to terms with the disappearance of her cat Rudy, when her other cat, Crunch, came hobbling into her home in Headington, Oxford.

Crunch, a one-year-old black cat, had been shot in her back leg — the pellet tore through the muscle and shattered the bone before coming out the other side.

Ms Hart, of William Kimber Crescent, now fears her missing cat may have been attacked and killed, and has warned people to be vigilant.

She said: “There is obviously someone out there who thinks this is fun, but I think that they are scum.

“I wouldn’t put it past whoever did this to do it again. What they don’t realise is that a moment’s fun for them has caused misery for me, my family and our cat.

“Crunch was badly injured and the vet told us that judging by the damage caused, whoever did this fired from point blank range.

“Her bone was jutting out making it hard for her to walk and she was pretty distressed.”

Ms Hart said she now has little hope of finding tabby Rudy, also one, safe and well.

“Having gone on to the Internet, I’ve been amazed at how easy it is to get hold of air rifles and how little control there is over them,” she added.

“If this is how people are going to use them, then I think there needs to be more regulation.”

Rudy went missing on Friday, November 28, and Crunch was shot two days later.

“It’s the not knowing what’s happened that is making it worse for us. My 13-year-old son Dan has been extremely upset by all this,” she said.

“But perhaps not knowing is better than finding out she was attacked and killed.”

Crunch is now recovering, having had a metal rod inserted in her leg. The treatment cost Ms Hart £1,200.

A police spokesman confirmed they were investigating the attack and the RSPCA had also called door-to-door in the neighbourhood to help with the investigation.

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: “This sort of attack is taken extremely seriously and anyone found guilty of causing suffering to an animal could face a maximum fine of £20,000 and six months in prison.”

Anyone who has found a tabby cat in the Headington area is asked to call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999, quoting reference code 515 November 30.

And anyone with information about the attack on Crunch is asked to call the police on 08458 505505 or speak anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

ckearney@oxfordmail.co.uk