Shot pet put down

A DISABLED pensioner will say farewell to her beloved cat today after it was shot by an air gun attacker who is targeting pets and wildlife in a Palmers Green neighbourhood.

Dorothy Searley will visit Branston, her nine-year-old tom cat, at Wood Green Animal Shelter one last time before he is put to sleep by vets.

The housebound 87-year-old, had hoped Branston, who is her only companion, would survive the attack. She is devastated by the incident.

Mrs Searley said: "I am heartbroken. He was such a lovely cat and this is a real shame. He was all I had."

Residents in the Green Lanes area are keen to catch the mystery culprit who has shot dead and injured a number of cats, birds, squirrels and foxes within the past month.

Mrs Searley said that at least three other cats, eight squirrels and a fox that visited her garden had been shot.

She added: "A white Persian cat was shot dead last week and a vixen that used to visit my garden every night has been shot in the leg. She is now lame.

"I used to enjoy watching the wildlife in my garden but now there is not one creature to be found. We have no idea who is doing this but they must be caught."

An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "Hundreds of animals are killed and injured every year in airgun attacks.

"The RSPCA investigated nearly 800 airgun attacks in England on domestic pets and wildlife between September 2000-2001 but we fear this is just the tip of the iceberg.

"Pet cats and wildlife are common targets of airgun shootings. The pellets can inflict horrific injuries on animals and even kill them. Animals may crawl away and suffer a lingering death before their bodies are even discovered."

If you have any information about these attacks or if your pet is shot you should contact the RSPCA on 0870 5555 999.

09:57 Thursday 8th August 2002

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