By Jenny Barwise
Last updated 11:59, Thursday, 26 June 2008
A cat owner has spoken of her family’s heartbreak after their loved pet was shot in the head.
Catrina Flannery is now pleading with other animal owners to stay vigilant following the attack.
She found her daughter’s white cat, Chilly, dead behind a neighbour’s shed in Little Broughton, near Cockermouth, last Monday.
It appeared that he had been shot between the eyes with an air pellet.
Mrs Flannery had let Chilly out on Sunday night as she did every night at 10pm. He usually returned about an hour later.
She said: “He wasn’t there when I got up in the morning. I put his breakfast down for him and went to work.
“When I came home a man from across the road asked me if my cat was missing. I said ‘no, I just haven’t seen him today’.
“He then said he was dead behind somebody’s garage. He had been shot.”
Mrs Flannery got Chilly as a kitten nearly four years ago for her 15-year-old daughter Kayla. She said that the pet had became part of the family and that her twin daughters were devastated by his death.
“I had to keep my daughters off school for two days from lack of sleep,” Mrs Flannery, of Ghyll Bank, added.
“The first night, I was really scared because I have got five rabbits in the garden and if they could shoot one cat, they could do it again.
“It is not fair on animals to be locked up. I realise when I reported it that the chance of the person getting caught was very slim.
“But I just don’t want anybody else to go through this.”
Cumbria Police have also condemned the attack. An investigation is underway to trace the gunman responsible.
A spokesman said: “This is a despicable incident that has led to the death of a much-loved family pet.
“I would urge anyone with information to contact Cockermouth police.”
Anyone with information about the shooting should contact police on 0845 33 00 247 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Police and animal experts have spoken in the past about their concern over the number of animals shot in Cumbria. The RSPCA has been informed about the cat’s death.
