Case Details
Case Snapshot
Case ID: 15099
Classification: Shooting
Animal: cat
View more cases in EN (UK)
Animal was offleash or loose
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Cat shot with air rifle
Oxford, EN (UK)

Incident Date: Friday, Jan 9, 2009

Disposition: Open

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

The owner of a cat recovering from an air rifle attack was devastated when a neighbour found another of her pets shot dead.

The RSPCA has put up a �250 award in a bid to catch the people responsible for the attacks.

In December, the Oxford Mail reported that Kate Hart's one-year-old black cat, Crunch, had been shot at point blank range with an air rifle and had to have a metal rod inserted into her leg.

Ms Hart, from William Kimber Crescent, in Headington, was still harbouring hopes of finding her tabby cat Rudy, also one, who had been missing since November.

But last week a neighbour called to tell Ms Hart they had found a dead cat.

She said: "They thought they had found Rudy under some leaves in the garden when they were tidying up. Rudy was chipped so we were able to identify her.

"The RSPCA took her to a vet for a post mortem, which has shown that she was shot twice by an air rifle."

RSPCA x-rays showed two pellets lodged in the cat's body, one near to the spine and one closer to the hip.

Douglas Davidson, Oxfordshire RSPCA inspector, said: "The pellet that was removed from Crunch's leg and the two pellets that were found in Rudy have been taken as evidence and we will be working with the police to see if there is any way we can identify who is doing this.

"This is a serious incident. It is an extremely sad state of affairs when people are too scared to let their cats out of their homes."

Shooting at a cat with an air rifle can lead to a 12-month prison sentence and a fine of up to �20,000.

In Oxfordshire there were seven reported shootings in 2007 and eight in 2008.

An anonymous donor contacted the RSPCA and offered the �250 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Ms Hart also has three other cats, Smokey, Cleo, and Dappidy - named by her 13-year-old son Daniel.

She said: "I've told my son, and we're both just very concerned for the rest of our cats.

"It's frightening to think there are people out there who would do this. I want people to know that we are not going to stand for this. I hope that after seeing this people will come forward with information.

"More importantly I hope the people who have done this will see how much hurt and upset they have caused us and never, ever do it to anyone again."

Police are investigating both shootings. Anyone with any information should call Pc Nathan Budd at Cowley Police Station on 08458 505505.

References

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