Swans shot to death
Renfrewshire, SC (UK)Incident Date: Saturday, Nov 24, 2007
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
A Scottish SPCA worker told of her horror at finding two swans shot by thugs.
The mute swans, a mating pair, were found with multiple pellets to the head at a pond in Inchinnan, Renfrewshire.
The male was already dead after being pounded with eight shots - six in the head.
The female bird, who had been shot through both eyes, survived the "brutal" attack, but had to be put down.
Sheena Gatherer, an ambulance driver with the Scottish SPCA, said: "To find them lying dead and injured in a pool of blood was just devastating."
Experts believe two guns, both fitted with sight equipment, firing different pellets were used to kill the birds.
The attack took place at the pond in Inchinnan Industrial Estate, near Barnsford Avenue, late on Saturday November 24, or early on Sunday November 25.
Now animal welfare campaigners have called for tighter controls on airguns.
Ms Gatherer, who lives just a few streets from the pond, said: "This is one of the worst incidents I've ever had to deal with, particularly as I had visited these swans many times.
"This pair had been using the pond every winter for the last six years, bringing up their cygnets, and were much loved by local people, who fed them every day.
"I can't begin to imagine what type of person would inflict such suffering on these beautiful birds.
"Parents considering getting their children an airgun this Christmas should think again."
Vet pathologist Dr Hal Thompson, a senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow, carried out post mortem examinations on the birds.
He said: "There's little doubt that whoever carried out this pointless attack took pleasure in the violence."
Doreen Graham, spokeswoman for the Scottish SPCA, appealed for information from the public.
She said: "This incident shows why we need tighter controls on the sale and use of airguns.
"This was a premeditated act designed to inflict suffering, pain and death.
"Someone, somewhere, will have a vital piece of information that may ultimately prevent more birds and animals from such appalling suffering." References
|
