CAT ATTACKER ON THE PROWL
A CLIFTON Springs man is frightened a child might be next after his pet cat was shot with a rifle just metres from a nearby primary school.
Grant Craigen said his four-year-old cat Eddy had sustained horrific injuries after being shot near his Kewarra Drive home last Wednesday, tearing apart his jaw and teeth in an unprovoked attack.
Mr Craigen, who has taken time off work to care for Eddy, said it wasn’t the first cat to be shot in the area with one having its leg amputated after another recent shooting.
“He’s hanging in there but the vets have had to cut a hole in his neck and put a tube there to feed him for the next four weeks. I heard him outside last Wednesday evening and was wondering why he wasn’t inside already,” he said. “He was just lying there bleeding, he’s lucky to be alive.
“We didn’t know he’d been shot until they did the operation and found the bullet.”
Mr Craigen said when vets at Bellarine Veterinary Practice in Newcomb spotted a white patch on the X-ray they initially thought it was an error, but on closer inspection discovered it was a bullet.
“A car I could believe, but not a bullet. Who would do this?” Mr Craigen said.
“The other cat injured lives just nearby and we’re both just near the primary school.
“My vet bills, they’ve exceeded $4000, and I’ve had to give up a two-month contracting job to take care of him.”
Acting Senior Sergeant Dean Parrello urged anyone with information to contact police.
“I can confirm there have been two reports made here and they are being investigated. It is disturbing that a person is deliberately injuring animals in that way,” he said. “If the culprit has an issue with cats at large, they can address this with the council.
“I also find it concerning that a person is using a firearm in a populous place.”
Anyone with information can contact Bellarine Police on 5256 2698 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.