Cat owner hits out after pet nearly dies (From The Northern Echo)

Family pet Angel collapsed at her owner’s home

9:04am Thursday 26th August 2010 in Animal Watch

CAT owner whose three-year-old pet suffered lifethreatening injuries after it was shot with an air rifle has condemned the shooter.

Family pet Angel was found crying in pain and collapsed at her owner’s home in Gallows Hill, Ripon.

Owner Charlotte Holliday took Angel to a vet, where an air rifle pellet was found in her gut.

Angel’s bowel was perforated in three places, and part of her gut had to be removed.

The attack happened in the afternoon of Tuesday, August 17.

Miss Holliday and her boyfriend, Jon Graham, whose home backs onto a wooded area which Angel visits, were devastated by the attack.

She said: “It is awful and disgraceful and I do not know how they could do it.

“Angel is a member of the family and we are lucky she pulled through. It was touchand- go for a while.

“I do not know if she was shot on purpose or if she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Angel had left the family home at 2.30pm and returned at about 5pm and collapsed in the kitchen.

RSPCA welfare officer Aislinn Balderston said: “Angel suffered an immense amount of pain and has lost her trust in people.

“Whoever is responsible for this cruel act needs to know how damaging this has been for the family and the animal involved.”

If caught, the culprit faces a £20,000 fine and a six-month jail sentence if found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering.

Anyone with information has been asked to call the RSPCA in confidence on 0300-1234-999