RSPCA Cymru appeal after cat shot with an air rifle in Aberbeeg

Advertisement

The terrified stray cat is now in RSPCA care

RSPCA Cymru is appealing for information after a cat was found to have been shot in Aberbeeg near Abertillery.

The animal welfare charity were contacted after concerns were raised about a black and white cat who was injured and appeared to be in pain. He also could not bear weight on his front paw.

It is thought he was a stray after his owner died a few years ago and was found in the Lydia Ann Terrace area of the village – which straddles Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent council areas.

RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector, Gemma Black who is investigating the incident, said: “We’d like to thank the member of the public who called us about this cat and to those who may have been looking out for him as a stray.

“We don’t know his name and he isn’t microchipped, although we have nicknamed him Bob”.

Gemma said with the help of one of our volunteers, we were able to set a trap and catch the cat safely on Sunday and taken to a vet for immediate treatment.

“Following investigations at the vets, it was found that he had an air-rifle pellet in one of its front legs. Thankfully it hadn’t gone too deep so nothing was broken.”

He has now been transferred to RSPCA Merthyr Tydfil Veterinary Clinic for further care.

The RSPCA would urge anyone who saw what happened, or who may have any further information, to please get in touch.

Gemma added: “Anyone with any information – or saw this incident first hand – is asked to contact the RSPCA appeals line number on 0300 123 8018 and refer to incident number 1917438.

“At the moment we don’t know if this was a deliberate attack or accidental, however, there is a growing concern that cats and wildlife are being deliberately targeted and killed in this way – there is no excuse to harm a defenceless animal.

“We would ask parents and carers to speak and educate young people about this.”

Anyone caught deliberately using an air gun to injure an animal can face up to five years in prison and/or an unlimited fine if found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act.

Every year the RSPCA receives almost 1,000 calls to investigate cases, and help hundreds of animals that are the victims of air gun attacks.

Cats and wildlife are the animals most vulnerable to being shot simply because they are out in the open with no one to protect them. Unfortunately, air rifle attacks are not as rare as the charity would like. The injuries caused by such attacks can be horrific and often fatal.

Gemma added: said: “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.”

For more information about how to report an incident of animal cruelty, visit the RSPCA website.

Rising levels of animal suffering and growing numbers of large-scale rescues – led us to record numbers of animals in our care. Hundreds of animals need homes today. We urgently need kind and caring people to adopt and foster, so we continue to rescue animals from cruelty and neglect. Visit our website so we can start to match you this Adoptober.