Family's fury after pet cat is shot (From Salisbury Journal)

Family's fury after pet cat is shot

8:42am Monday 9th July 2007 in News By Roland Batten

AN Amesbury family have been left angry and upset after someone shot their nine-year-old pet cat with an air rifle.

Steve Coombes and his partner, Sally, returned with their two children to their home near Amesbury recreation ground after lunchtime last Wednesday to find Jerry, their tabby cat, bleeding from a wound just above one of his eyes.

Mr Coombes said he looked closely and noticed an airgun pellet embedded in Jerry's head.

He added: "We took Jerry to the vet and the pellet was removed. Jerry is okay now but it could have been different.

"We were only away from the house for an hour or so and Jerry was fine when we left, so someone must have shot him between noon and 2pm while we were out.

"He uses the cat flap to go in and out and we live near the town's recreation ground, so it could have happened there.

"I am concerned there is someone out there firing an airgun around the recreation ground.

"I have two children, Ellie aged four and Adam, 16 months, and I know lots of youngsters use the recreation ground to play in.

"It is quite a shock to think in this quiet area of Amesbury, someone is going around with an airgun shooting at cats. What makes it even more worrying is it could have been done in an area used by children."

Mr Coombes said he had reported the incident to Amesbury police.