Cat’s sternum shattered by pellet

A CAT was found in unspeakable agony at the side of the road in Mtunzini recently. It had being shot in the chest with a pellet gun.

Reports of monkeys and cats being shot are on the rise. Two weeks ago, Tigris, a 10-year-old ginger cat belonging to Lydia Marlene Meyer, went missing and was found five days later, critically injured.

Zululand Veterinary Hospitals’ Dr L Morkel confirmed the incident and in a report stated: ‘The animal was brought in on 17 May, severely anemic with difficulty in breathing. X-rays revealed a pellet (bullet) in his chest.

‘After hospitalisation and intensive treatment, Tigris recovered but the pellet pieces were not removed due to the extra trauma such an invasive procedure would cause.’

The case has been registered with the Mtunzini police.

Monkeys

However, cats are not the only animals being targeted. Monkeys have been shot too.

According to Animal Rights Africa Project, Monkey Helplines’ Steve Smit, ‘monkeys are having a very hard time of it.

‘It is bad enough, from their perspective, that humans have moved into their areas, but as we introduce more security measures and are increasingly intolerant of the presence of troops, they are suffering increasingly cruel human-related injuries and deaths.’

Monkeys can linger in agony for two weeks before they die after been shot with pellets.

More than 80% of monkeys rescued by Monkey Helpline, for whatever reason, are found to have pellets from pellet guns lodged in their bodies.

This despite the fact that the Firearms Act makes it a criminal offense to discharge a air-rifle in a built-up area or public place.

In terms of the Animal Protection Act and the Provincial Conservation Ordinance, it is an offence to shoot monkeys or any other animal, and anybody seen doing so must be reported to the SAPS or SPCA immediately.