Hunt for thug who shot cat
A cruel thug shot a cat with an airgun at the weekend, leaving a pellet lodged in its face.
Police were this week investigating the incident after the cat’s owner Kirstie Gavin of Larkhall reported the incident to them this week.
She was appalled to find that her seven-year-old daughter Casie’s tortoiseshell cat, Chocolate, had come back home with a pellet stuck in its face.
Kirstie of Whinnie Knowe, Strutherhill, said the cat had been out roaming in the nearby woods and had returned home, and while stroking the cat’s face she noticed something stuck close to its eye.
She explained: “Chocolate doesn’t allow you to stroke her very often. So at first I thought it was just something from the grass area outside, but when I looked further I knew exactly what it was.
“I tried to get it out using my fingers but managed to get it with tweezers.
“It came straight out and left as a clean wound and I phoned the vet who said I should monitor it for any change in case of infection.
“My daughter has been really upset by this and we just don’t know how anyone could do this, it could have been a lot worse.
“Chocolate only roams around the wooded area close to our home and doesn’t even go out onto the street, it would be really hard to keep her in.”
Police said the cat had been out of the house during and after last weekend so the incident could have occurred between 10am on Saturday, September 17, and 1pm on Tuesday, September 20.
Enquiries are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Chief Inspector Sandy Blair, Area Commander for Hamilton, said: “This must have been a traumatic experience for both the cat and its owner.
“No animal should have to endure such senseless violence inflicted by twisted individuals.
“Our enquiries are at an early stage to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident.
“I would ask anyone who resides around Whinnie Knowe and Glen Avenue to contact us with any information they may have.
“If you walk your dog in the grassy area between the two schools and Asda, perhaps you may have seen someone acting suspiciously at some point across the weekend.
“With the help of the community we will be able to hold those responsible to account for their actions. Please contact officers via 101 with any information you may have.”
From December 31, 2016, it will be an offence to use, possess, purchase or acquire an air weapon in Scotland without holding an air weapon certificate.
Visit www.scotland.police.uk for more information.