News Cat hurt in gun attack
An apparent firearms attack on a cat in Goole has prompted its owners to warn that children could be the next victims.
The cat's owners, who have asked not to be named, have issued a warning to people in the St Georges Green, Swan Lane and Sir Len Hutton Drive areas after their pet came home with a shattered leg.
"On Sunday July 1, at approximately 8.30pm, our cat was shot," the couple told the Goole Times.
"He was only out for about 30 minutes and managed to get home so we know it happened locally."
Thankfully, the cat survived but suffered a shattered leg and needed treatment at a veterinary surgery.
The cat's owners warned: "If evil people can do this to innocent cats, it could be children next.
"We thought we lived in a decent area of Goole but this proves different."
The matter was reported to the RSPCA and Humberside Police.
John Myhill, of the Humberside Police's firearms unit, said: "Air weapons are dangerous and can cause serious or fatal injuries.
"The missiles from inside the weapons can travel between 600 and 700 feet per second.
"It is an offence to carry a fire arm in a public place and those found to have weapons could face being prosecuted."
Jane Petty, of the Goole branch of the RSPCA, said of the incident: "It's horrible."
Since the incident in the St Georges Green area, another cat belonging to a Heber Street resident has seemingly been shot with a ball bearing gun.
Again the matter has been reported to the RSPCA but Hannah Bryer, RSPCA inspector for the Goole area said that prosecuting is difficult, as it is often hard to know when and where the incident took place, and to find people who have witnessed the shooting.
"Cats go out and wander and it could be anyone shooting them," she said.
"They could have been shot accidently or hit deliberately.
"We have no way of knowing where the cat has been.
"We follow things up as much as we can."
However, Ms Bryer urged anyone who cat has been shot to report it to the RSPCA and pointed out that offenders can also be liable for criminal damages as they are damaging property, albeit living property, which does not belong to them.
The number to call to report incidents of cruelty is 0870 5555 999.
Published on 19th July 2007 in News.
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