Ascot Park cat shooting fears
The shooting of a cat in Ascot Park has left its owner with a hefty vet bill and she is fearful the shooter will strike again.
Debbie Aarons, who lives in Caduceus Place, woke in the early hours of November 19 to find her 13-month-old cat meowing and distressed.
The cat, Jasper, was in obvious pain when Ms Aarons picked him up and he began vomiting.
An vet examination the next day found a slug pellet was embedded in Jasper and had perforated his bowel.
He was now on the mend, Ms Aarons said, but wouldn’t be chasing birds any time soon. Her vet bill was about $3000. ‘‘It could have been teenagers that did this, I don’t know, but who shoots a cat?
‘‘It’s disgusting and they’d have to be brain dead to do it.
‘‘Jasper’s a bit of a scaredy-cat and for someone to do this is terrible. I’m afraid they will do this again.’’
Porirua City Council’s animal control team leader Murray Chilcott said he was aware of an incident in Excellency Tce, Ascot Park, a few months ago when a dog was shot. Any incidents of animals being shot at was of concern, he said.
‘‘ Any animal cruelty like this needs to be taken seriously, along with the discharging of a firearm in a built-up area.’’
Kapiti Mana Police area commander Detective Inspector Paul Basham said that though slug guns had lower restrictions than other firearms, someone firing one in parks or residential areas was totally inappropriate.
‘‘There are basic rules around firearm use, especially in places where people live.’’
Ms Aarons, who has reported the shooting to police, hoped the shooter would read about what happened to Jasper and think twice before doing it again.
She said if anyone was arrested, she would like police to ‘‘throw the book at them’’.