A PET-LOVER who has fostered more than 1,000 cats has been left devastated after her pet was fatally shot.
Christine Wilkinson’s 19-year-old cat Salem came home with a wound to his side and she thought he had been in a fight and cleaned him up.
But when he failed to eat that evening she rang the emergency vet and an X-ray revealed he had a pellet lodged in his stomach.
He underwent surgery the following morning but the vet decided his injuries were too severe and he was put to sleep.
Christine told the Examiner: “There is a person going round taking pot shots with an air rifle at cats and other creatures.
“Salem came home bleeding profusely from a side wound.
“We rushed him to the vet and after an examination, an X-ray showed he had a pellet lodged in his stomach.
“He underwent an operation but because of the seriousness of the injury the vet said he wouldn’t pull through.”
Now Christine, 63, is warning other cat owners to make them aware of the incident and prevent their pets having the same outcome.
She added: “I suspect it will happened again, and hopefully someone can stop this cretin.”
Christine has worked closely with the RSPCA and PDSA for the last 20 years and fostered more than a thousand cats.
She stopped fostering a few years ago, and took in Salem 10 years earlier after she had been looking after him as a stray.
She added: “I told the police and they have said the inquiry will stay open but unless someone has seen something it is unlikely we will find the person responsible.”
The RSPCA warned cruel air weapon shootings of pets are becoming increasingly common with those responsible are liable for a prison sentence of up to six months and/or a fine of up to £20,000.
Anyone with information to the incident which happened around Leymoor Road should contact police on 101.
