DOMESTIC animals used as target practice raises its ugly head on a regular basis in Zululand, especially in residential areas.
Empangeni resident Pat Hubbard was recently exposed to this cruelty.
Living in a small gated community, she lost her second cat in a matter of months, and her greatest fear was that it probably suffered a prolonged, painful death.
‘My ginger cat never goes far and when she did not come home I began to worry,’ Hubbard explained.
After frantically searching the entire complex and speaking to neighbours, there was still no sign of the cat.
In desperation Hubbard went to the SPCA to ascertain if anybody had brought in a ginger cat.
‘The lady behind the counter told me one had been brought in, but the poor creature had been shot with a pellet gun and was at the Empangeni vet. The strange thing was it had been found in my complex and I really assumed it must have been my cat.’
It turned out not to be hers, but one she had seen around the complex.
‘It was still young and healthy when I saw it a few days before. What shocked me the most though, was the bullet hole in the poor cat’s chest and the shattered pelvis caused by the pellet.’
Empangeni SPCA Inspector, Roland Fivas, confirmed the incident saying ‘the cat was shot with a pellet gun. It is at the Empangeni vet for treatment’.
‘The person that shot it can face charges under the Animals Protection Act, the Municipal Bylaws and the Firearms Act. Please folks do NOT buy your kids pellet guns. These things are dangerous,’ he said.
Firearms Act
According to the Firearms Control Act –It is an offence to discharge a firearm, an antique firearm or an airgun in a built-up area or any public place, without good reason to do so.
Fivas added ‘anybody seen firing an airgun in a residential or built-up area should be reported to the SAPS. If anybody is seen firing at any animal, domestic or wild, they must be reported to the SPCA immediately’.
‘Cruelty to animals can not be tolerated.’
However to ensure these laws are affective and respected, the community needs to become more proactive by reporting blatant disregard of life and laws witnessed on a daily basis.
Makes me so angry wish I could catch that person and do the same.. cant handle ppl hurting animals… if u didnt know.. its Gods creatures.. and ur hurting them u idiot
ASB mense: hou julle irriterende katte in jul huis en nie dat hulle in my huis kom urineer nie, of my plante bepoo nie, ek het niks teen katte nie maar hou jou kat ‘at bay’ baie mense is allergies vir kathare agv die kat wat in jou huis oorvat. En as jy nie jou kat kan beteuel nie, moenie hulle aanhou nie. Hulle vernietig ons voël lewe.
this is disgusting..shame man, how can someone do this !!! Does this cat have a home to go to ?
Just catch the cat, cover it in motor oil and let it loose. It will go to it’s owners house and rub itself all over the furniture and curtains. That should then teach them to keep their cat’s at home.
I got nothing against cats, but they like to roam and that causes a problem for neighbors.
Ann ek dink nie jy besef dis miskien jou HONDE was almal om jou wakker hou nie, so moenie jy kom en se mense soos ek ja wat katte het moet hulle beteuel nie, wie gee jou die reg???????? ja ek het 2 katte en hulle gaan nie in ander mense se huise in nie, en oja, as jy se hulle urineer in jou huis is dit omdat dit vuil is katte hou nie na n vuil huis nie, so vee eers jou stoep voor jy dit op ander wil uit haal!!!!!
this p*sses me off sooo much. My cat was shot last week Friday night with an air pellet gun. I have found out who has done it. IF ONLY they would just be at home so the police can do what needs to be done !!