A Moot resident is fuming after her cat was shot and injured with an air rifle and has warned other residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities.
The resident, Susan Botha (not her real name), said she noticed her cat was in pain and upon investigating found a small hole in its side.
“We immediately rushed her to the veterinary hospital for medical assistance. Luckily she survived,” Botha said.
“On a previous occasions we noticed someone firing shots and feral cats walking on home security walls,” she added.
According to SPCA spokesperson Korky Levanon, the shooting of animals with an air rifle is a common occurrence.
She added that the SPCA have not received any complaints about animals that had been shot in the Moot.
According to a statement by the national SPCA, complaints are received regularly by the them and individual SPCAs throughout South Africa. Of great concern was the use of air rifles to victimise animals either for fun or as punishment for encroaching on properties or for simply becoming a nuisance.
The NSPCA believes that the use of a pellet gun on any animal, including any wild bird is a violation of the Animals Protection Act No 71 of 1962.
Levanon provided the following safety tips to protect your pets from similar situations:
1. Always have a good relationship with your neighbours.
2. Try to come to a mutual understanding in terms of your pets.
3. Always communicate with each other.
4. When you would like to keep a cat from coming onto your property, throw out citronella pellets.
If you would like to report any animal abuse, you can do so by contacting the SPCA at their Waltloo office on 012 803 5219 or at their Centurion office on 012 664 5644.
Alternatively you can visit their website on www.spcapta.org.za for more information.
Also read:
SPCA geared up for abandonment of animals
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