Much-loved cat dies after being 'shot in spine' in Tamworth

A cat had to be put down after a suspected shooting in its spine in Tamworth. The horrific incident happened in the Lothersdale area of Stonydelph on Saturday, April 27.

Owner Carmen, who did not want to disclose her surname, rushed poor Coco to the vets in a bid to save him but, sadly, he had to be put down the morning after.

She told us: "I am absolutely disgusted and shocked about the fact that someone is going around with a gun killing animals just for his or her pleasure.

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"Coco was our first pet and he grew up with my children who are absolutely devastated. Police have been notified as well.

"I just want to let everyone know what is happening around the area and to please keep an extra eye on their pets.

"I want a warning sent to people because I don’t want this to happen again and maybe, by some miracle, we can find the person responsible for this crime so they can be brought to justice."

Explaining what happened, she recalled: "I saw Coco crawling towards our house. His half-lower body was literally like a rag.

"We thought that a car hit him so we took him straight away to Blaise Veterinary Hospital. They did an X-ray and other checks and found out that he was actually shot in the middle of his spine and there were no other injuries.

"He was kept overnight on strong medication and in the morning we picked him up and went to PDSA Oldbury for further investigation.

"Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do for him. The doctor said that his spine was completely shattered, he was paralysed and in severe pain and we had to make the very difficult decision to put him down."

RSPCA and Staffordshire Police have been notified. Police said: "Officers are appealing for information after a cat was killed in Tamworth.

"We were called at 2.40am on Sunday (28 April) following reports that the cat had been shot with a small metal ball near Malham Road, Stonydelph, between 7pm and 8.30pm on Saturday. The cat underwent emergency medical treatment but has sadly died.

"If you have any information that can help us, please get in touch. You can call us on 101, quoting 79 of 28 April, or message us using Live Chat on our website. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

The RSPCA said: “We’re extremely saddened to hear this and our thoughts are with the owner at this very difficult and upsetting time.

“We know we are not alone in thinking that any deliberate attack on an animal in this way is appalling, but sadly these types of incidents are not uncommon. We receive hundreds of calls to investigate air gun shootings every year and sadly cats and wildlife are usually the animals most often affected.

“We should all want to see a world where animals are treated with kindness and respect. But while it's still too easy for people to get their hands on an airgun, without the necessary basic safety training, or an understanding of the impact these weapons pose, then animals remain at risk.

“That's why the RSPCA wants to see stricter regulations - including better education, training for owners, and a thorough explanation of the law - which could help protect countless animals from such attacks in the future.”

It is not the first pet-related incident reported in Stonydelph. Earlier in March we told how two dogs had died of suspected poisoning in the same area.