Vet saves cat after shooting (From Barry And District News)

Vet saves cat after shooting

BARRY families say they are 'living in fear' after a second spate of vicious pellet-gun attacks on cats in the area.

The shooting of two animals, as reported in last week's News, has continued with a frightening incident that nearly left one cherished feline unable to walk. Joanne Thomas, 19, and her husband Darren, 23, both of Morel Road, Barry, were returning home after visiting Darren's mother last Thursday evening when their cat, Salem, did not respond to calls.

Mrs Thomas told the News: "We went straight to the back of the house to check on the cat when we came home. We called him several times but he didn't respond. "Then we saw him in next door's back yard. He wasn't moving and he had a tiny red circle on his paw and one on his shoulder. We thought that he wouldn't be able to walk again."

Housewife Mrs Thomas said that her one-year-old son, Sam, adored the pet and has been wondering where it went.

The Thomas's, both unemployed, have had to pay more than £300 in vets' fees after the cat spent six days at Barry Veterinary Hospital.

She added: "It's so strange. I'd only just been reading about people shooting cats in the News. Then I came back and found my own cat had been shot."

Mrs Thomas informed the police as soon as they had taken the cat to the hospital, but were told that nothing could be done because no one had seen the shooters.

She said: "We are really worried because we often use the lane behind the house, so it could have been the baby or anybody else.

"People shouldn't be allowed to walk around with guns. It's not right. They do this for fun and then we take the consequences."