RESIDENTS FEAR that there is a “sick person” with an air rifle in the area after yet another cat is shot.
Marie Gaskell, 53, of Kinmel Bay says she is the third cat-owner in her estate to have her pet injured with a pellet gun after her cat Lilt was wounded on August 5.
This is the fourth time in a month that an incident of animal cruelty has been reported to the Journal - after the RSPCA rescued a gull shot with a crossbow bolt,
Felix the cat lost an eye and Rusty the cat was shot in the head.
Mrs Gaskell, who cares for several animals, believes that an injury to Lilt’s back was caused when the cat was clipped with a pellet.
She said: “There’s a hole in her back. It doesn’t look like an animal bite.”
Mrs Gaskell, who has reported the incident to the police, said that she was disgusted by the idea that someone might be attacking pets.
She said: “If they can pick on a defenceless animal they can pick on anyone. It’s not the first time a cat’s been shot around here.”
Mrs Gaskell said that a nearby field is a common stalking-ground for local cats and she is afraid that someone is deliberately visiting the field to fire at the animals.
Felix and her sibling Tizer were adopted when Mrs Gaskell’s daughter, who originally owned the animals, found that she was allergic to them.
Mrs Gaskell said: “I don’t let them out at night now. If anyone hurt them it would be like they were hurting my kids.
“What sick person can do that?”
The RSPCA recommends that if you find an animal and you suspect it has been shot then contact the animal charity or, if you have transport, take the animal to the vets as soon as you can.
A spokesperson from the RSPCA said: “It’s also important to report if you witness an incident.”
Anyone with information about an incident of animal cruelty can call the 24-hour RSPCA cruelty line 0300 1234 999.