Telford owner's anger after Monty the cat shot with air gun
A cat has been wounded with a pellet from an air gun, leaving his Telford owner with a £3,000 vets bill and sparking a police investigation.
Monty the Maine Coon returned home this morning with a wound on his side, and his owner Victoria Smith said he may not pull through the operation to remove the pellet.
Victoria, 40, lives in Madeley with Monty, Kitty the cat and two dogs.
She said: "It happened between 6am and 9.15 in the area around Madeley High Street.
"Monty came in and there was fresh blood dripping from a wound on his flank.
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"It had literally just happened. The pellet entered on his back flank and it didn't exit but it went right through to the other side.
"Luckily I got him to the vet straight away, within two hours of it happening.
"The vet has called me and confirmed he had been shot.
"I'm hoping he will be okay, it's not 100 per cent he will be."
'Shocked'
Victoria took Monty to the Haygate Veterinary Centre in Madeley, where he will undergo an operation. She was told the pellet had pierced Monty's intestine.
She said that she now keeps her other pets inside to protect them.
"I'm angry and upset, very shocked. I've not known anything to happen in that area before.
"The cat has lived there for two years with no incidents.
"I don't feel like it's safe. The dog isn't going out, I don't know if someone is shooting from the windows. It's very worrying."
A statement from West Mercia Police said: "We were called at 1.46pm this afternoon to a report of a cat found injured at around 9am this morning.
"It's believed the injuries were caused by an air gun. The cat is receiving veterinary treatment.
"Enquiries are ongoing. If anyone witnessed the incident or any suspicious behaviour in the area, please call West Mercia Police on 101 quoting incident number 374s of June 26."
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org
