A KITTEN was shot with an air rifle on the first day it was let out of the house on Portland.

Six months old Thea was forced to undergo emergency surgery after being hit.

Owner Donna Souster said the family pet was lucky to be alive and has warned that a child could be hit by people firing air weapons.

Mrs Souster said: “I am furious and sickened by this.

“Somebody could clearly see this was a kitten. I can’t understand someone who would want to do that.

“It is very lucky they didn’t kill her.

“My children were really upset although they are relieved that Thea is going to be okay.”

She added: “I hope it is a one off.

“There are lots of cats and children around here.

“If someone is shooting an air rifle stray pellets could go anywhere if it is windy or if they ping off something.

“If someone is so heartless as to shoot a kitten, they will shoot anything.”

Mrs Souster lives with husband Gary and their children Jessica, 12, and Daniel, 10, in Victoria Road, on Tophill, Portland.

The family also have another cat called Calypso, who is nearly 13, and a dog.

Thea was shot after the family let her out for her first full day out of the house.

Jessica spotted the pellet and told her mum.

Mrs Souster said: “The pellet just missed her spine.

“If she had been paralysed she would not have been able to get back home.

“The skin around the wound was burned and she had tissue and muscle damage.”

The family took her to Fielding and Cumber vets where she underwent an emergency operation and was kept in overnight.

Sam Quartermaine, head veterinary nurse who operated on Thea, said: “It is quite rare to see shootings like this concerning household pets but it is still a great concern that it is happening at all.

“Sometimes pet owners don’t know that an air gun pellet is in there until the animal has an x-ray for something else and that is quite worrying.

“This one was quite obvious and she was very lucky that the pellet missed her spine otherwise it could have been a lot nastier.

“Whether this was kids messing around or someone shooting at the kitten to get it out of their garden, people need to realise that this can cause serious injury to an animal.”

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “It is a criminal offence to injure any animal.

“If anyone knows anything about this incident they should call PC Steven Morris who is dealing with the case on 01305 22222.”