Bristol cats shot with air rifle
A Bristol man says his pet cat is lucky to be alive after she was shot in the eye with an air gun.
Owner Andy Ridgewell says three-year-old Lentil came home one night with her face covered in blood, and had to have her right eye removed.
Only days earlier Lentil's one-year-old son Sprout had returned home in distress with a large puncture wound in one of his back legs, and Mr Ridgewell had rushed him to an emergency vets' surgery.
Mr Ridgewell, 40, from Easton, who works at Bristol University as a climate change researcher, said: "I was suspicious at the time but we couldn't find any pellets.
"It wasn't until a couple of days ago at a routine check that the vet found a pellet lodged in Lentil's neck.
"It must have passed straight through her eye.
"She is lucky to be alive – if it had hit an artery or her brain it might have been a different story."
Mr Ridgewell owns seven cats, but only three of them leave the garden.
He said: "Now I'm worrying whenever they go out.
"I don't want to stop them going out of the garden.
"It's a bit difficult to do that anyway, but I am worried they will come home injured again."
Both cats are recovering well, but Lentil is still on a course of painkillers.
He said: "Not only am I left with £600 in vet's bills, but I also lost £600 I had spent on a flight to Japan for work, which I had to cancel when Lentil was shot.
"I have no idea who did this, I just hope they will see what they did to my cats and be so ashamed that they don't do it again.
"I know there are people out there who are cruel to animals but it is pretty sad that someone would do this for fun."
The two incidents happened on October 25 and 28, over half-term, in the area of Chelsea Road.
Police spokesman Simon Whitby said: "These incidents have been allocated to the beat manager.
"He will be investigating and talking to Mr Ridgewell."
22 Comments
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by Bob the Builder, Bristol
Saturday, November 14 2009, 12:46PM
“MARILYN, Stoke gifford bristol
read this, you are obviously a hard ***** brhymes with stitch,,,,
Cats ¿ and indeed all animals ¿ are regarded by English law as ¿property¿ or ¿things¿, not as living beings and thus there are some pretty definite rules about ownership. Once you own a ¿thing¿ then the law says you still own it until you legally transfer it to someone else. A sale is an obvious example, as is a gift.
Lawmakers recognise that a cat has an inherent nature to wander. Other notable differences in law between cats and dogs are that there is no requirement to notify the police if a cat is involved in a road accident, whereas there is with a dog. Cat owners are not required to keep their pets under control in the same way as dog owners are and they do not have the same liabilities which is why, in the world of pet insurance, cat insurance does not include third party liability cover whereas dog insurance does.”
by Emma, Bristol
Friday, November 13 2009, 10:26PM
“Not sure Darren, never really gave it much thought. Was just a comparison as some to some people, their pets are their children and they love them as such.”
by Darren, Bristol
Friday, November 13 2009, 9:40PM
“Emma,
Do you not find it a bit amusing that cat owners/lovers always bring chirldren into it? It's as if even cat owners are not really that bothered about it. Is shooting or killing a cat not bad enough? Does it have to be made worse by bringing in fictional characters and story lines? Just curious!!”
by darren, Bristol
Friday, November 13 2009, 7:11PM
“Amanda,
Next time you decide to attach your little "cat hater" badge to someone, I suggest you pick a better target! Or, you could try reading a comment and think about what the person is actually saying instead of reading it with a preconseption and prior prejudice! Unless you can show me any part of John II's statement that is negative towards cats. If you care to read it again with an open-mind you might see that it is the owners that are the subject of his criticism. I'm sure John is as open-minded as you about people liking diferent things and the diversity it brings, he's just pointing out that if you want a pet but not responsibility for it...most go for a cat! (no wonder the country is in the state it's in when people like you can't even be bothered to understand another persons point of view)
I wonder how open-minded you would be if those people who like different things from you, came and did them in your garden. I'm sure there's many people who just don't have any more garden to brick a car upon and would be greatfull of the offer...they might even strip an engine or 5 down in it too!!!”
by MARILYN, Stoke gifford bristol
Friday, November 13 2009, 7:10PM
“CATS....Damn pests, I would not shoot one but I'd kick it into touch If only I could catch it. I have regular feline visitors to my garden...a kitty poo bag and scoop is the answer, Cat owners should be responsible for the fowling of our gardens just as dog owners are responsible for the fowling of our streets!!!!”
by Emma, Bristol
Friday, November 13 2009, 6:41PM
“Ha ha slightly bad grammar used in previous comment. Balls games is not what I meant to say before all you toffs jump on the correction band wagon.
Don't shoot cats! End of.”
by Emma, Bristol
Friday, November 13 2009, 6:38PM
“I think people make these nasty comments to stir up a reaction. It happens every time an article is shown about cats/ cyclists/ christmas. People like to make controversial statements for the reaction it brings. Anyone who thinks it's okay to shoot a cat if it walks into their garden, hopefully doesn't have neighbours with kids who like to play balls games! god help them!”
by Jacqui, Bristol
Friday, November 13 2009, 5:43PM
“I cannot believe some of the comments that have been made regarding these poor cats, especially the comments that cats should be shot.
Cats naturally wander and yes when they soil in your garden it's a nuisance - but for God's sake they are animals. They don't stop and think "shall I wind this person up today and poo in their garden "
What an awful society we live in where people thing it is ok to shoot animals.”
by Helen Lovejoy, Springfield
Friday, November 13 2009, 4:54PM
“I agree with HAL. Won't somebody please think of the children?”
by Herbert, Bristol
Friday, November 13 2009, 4:52PM
“Previous slightly humerous comment deleted but I maintain.....
I dont agree with shooting animals but I also dont ask for Toxoplasmosis ridden droppings to be left in my garden. If they are, they get ejected with great ferocity into the nearest cat owners garden.
My veg patch is not a litter tray.”