Cat dies painful death after being shot with a pellet gun in Douglasdale
FOURWAYS – Cruel teens shoot and kill cat with pellet gun.
According to Stacey Lauren Judd Visser, a group of teenagers have allegedly been going around the Douglasdale and Norscot areas shooting innocent animals with high-velocity air rifles or high-velocity pellet guns.
Issey, Visser’s cat was their latest victim on 20 March and was shot around 2pm. Blue Bush Veterinary Clinic told Visser that Issey had died of severe haemorrhaging after they had done a postmortem.
“I have filed a case of animal abuse and the Douglasdale police are now searching for the culprits,” said Visser.
Visser now has reason to believe that the culprits are aged between 12 and 16. “The eldest is a good looking, tall, slim black boy with dreadlocks and the youngest is a white boy with short light brown hair,” described Visser.
It is suspected that there are four or five teenagers who are causing all the damage.
“We need parents to instil in their children a love and respect for animals. Education is key. South Africa has no defined animal rights and this desperately needs to change. The culprits will never understand what they have taken from us, and to have lost Issey is one of the hardest things I will ever go through.
“His life is no more important than any other animal, but I want him to be a beacon of hope like he was in life and now also in death for all animals that have died at the hands of these abusers and others.
“I’ve shared Issey in life with many people and now in death with all of you and I hope you will share his story,” said Visser.
The National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) provided insight on what to do in situations such as these. “It all depends on the amount of evidence you have,” said NSPCA inspector, Janette Muller.
She explained that it is better to go to the police directly with your written affidavit, open a police case and constantly phone for follow-ups and to get a court date. The magistrate will decide whether or not it is a case of animal cruelty.
“Use the SPCA in your area to help you with guidance throughout the process, give them the case number so that they may help you to follow-up on the case and to help you with and during your court case,” concluded Muller.
Read Keeping pets is a complex issue
“The teen [offenders] have been firing high-velocity weapons in a residential area and acting against the Animal Protection Act of 1992 to abuse, maime, cause suffering, kill or neglect any animal,” explained Visser in her recent update regarding Issey’s case.
The group is still at large.
Visser used #JusticeForIssey on Facebook and hopes to find justice for her cat and other loved animals who have suffered from this cruelty.
Details: If you have any information regarding Issey’s case, please contact Stacey Lauren Judd Visser on 083 272 7057 or the Douglasdale crime office on 082 822 7390 and provide them with the following case number CAS642/3/2017.
Edited by Stacey Woensdregt
What would you do if your beloved pet was terrorised in your community or what did you do if your animal was abused? Share your story with us on the Fourways Review Facebook page.
