The RSPCA is appealing for information after a beloved eight-year-old rescue cat was shot with an air gun in Hinckley.
Luckily Coke was not severely injured despite being shot – but her owners have been left shocked that someone could have deliberately targeted their cat.
The incident happened on 21 June – when her owners Michelle Handy and Nigel Cole, from Kirfield Drive, on the Stoney gate estate, discovered a weeping wound at the top of her front right leg.
Her worried owners took her for a veterinary examination where it was confirmed her injury had been caused by a gun pellet.
Fortunately the wound was not severe and was cleaned by the vets. She was given antibiotics and is recovering well despite her ordeal.
Michelle said: “We were really shocked when we found out that she had been shot. We just couldn’t believe that someone had deliberately done this to her.
“This house has been in our family for over 40 years now and they have always had cats and there has never been any kind of issue with someone targeting them.
“We are thankful that Coke is recovering well – but we want to highlight what has happened to her in order to prevent it happening to other cat owners in the area.”
Karl Marston, RSPCA investigating Inspector, said: “It’s understandably been very distressing for Coke’s owners to learn that their cat has been shot and it’s caused her considerable pain.
“The RSPCA is appealing for anyone with information to get in touch with us, particularly if you saw or heard anything unusual around the Stoney gate estate area on June 21.
“Anyone with first-hand information can contact the RSPCA inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018 quoting incident 01288826.”
The RSPCA is braced for a spike of animal cruelty this summer, and has launched its summer appeal so people can support the efforts of its frontline officers.
“It is always very distressing to think that people may be taking pleasure in causing such horrific injuries to defenceless animals.
“We want to see a world where every kind of animal is treated with compassion and respect and deliberate and brutal acts of cruelty should be consigned to the past.
“We continue to call for tighter controls on air weapons. This, along with better education and explanation of the law when buying an air gun, and requirements that everyone must receive basic safety training before being allowed to walk out of the shop could help relieve the problem.
“We receive more reports of cruelty in summer than at any other time of year. That’s why we’ve launched the RSPCA No Animal Deserves Cruelty Appeal because it’s vital that we all take action together to help animals. If you believe that no animal deserves cruelty, please donate now to help animals as abuse reaches its awful peak this summer. By working together we can create a world that’s kinder for all animals.”
