Pet cat shot with air rifle (From Bucks Free Press)

Pet cat shot with air rifle

10:58am Thursday 10th January 2008 in News By Andy Carswell

A WOMAN has spoken of her shock after her pet cat was shot with an air rifle in Chalfont St Peter on Sunday.

The cat, called Millie was shot in the chest somewhere between her home in Stylecroft Road and The Brow between 11am and 2pm while her owners were out.

The pellet became lodged in the opposite side of Millie's chest to the one it entered, leaving vets to say it was "a miracle" the pellet missed all of her major organs.

Millie, who is four years old, was originally at an RSPCA rescue centre before being taken in by her new owner, Pamela Newton.

Mrs Newton, 50, said: "We are all just so shocked. It's such a nice area and I can't get over the fact someone would be so evil.

"She managed to get home but she was in a terrible state when I saw her. She's pretty unwell and very lucky to have survived. She's just been cowering in the corner and can't even look out the window."

Police are now investigating the shooting and are planning to make inquiries around the neighbourhood.

Mrs Newton, an airline worker, added: "I don't want this to happen to anybody else."

Her husband, Rod, said Millie was making a good recovery after being operated on at Medivet, a veterinary surgery in Denham Green. "They took her in straight away and it's thanks to them she's still around," he said.

PC Mark Turner, who is investigating the incident, said: "It's sick how people can do this to animals, if it was on purpose.

"We take it very seriously. It could have been a young child or an adult and we are investigating and treating it in the same way we would normally."

* Anyone with information should contact PC Turner via the Police Enquiry Centre on 08458 505 505.