Cat shot with slug gun pellet

Who is shooting our cats with slug guns??

Richie was taken to the Manukau After Hours Veterinary Clinic (MAHVC) by his owner on Saturday 29 July 2017. MAHVC is an emergency vet clinic, open during night time, weekends and public holidays when most vet clinics are closed.

Richie is a one-year old DSH cat who presented to the clinic struggling to breathe, lethargic and not eating.

Upon examination, the vet was able palpate his abdomen and felt a suspected slug gun pellet. He was placed on oxygen to stabilise him as he was in a critical stage. Once improved, Richie could have investigative x-rays.

Three slug gun pellets were found; one on the right fore, one on the left hind leg and one in the chest causing bleeding in the lungs and subcutaneous emphysema. (air escaping from the lungs, leaking under the skin)

MAHVC provided intensive care treatment overnight which included oxygen therapy, fluids, pain relief and antibiotics. This was necessary as Richie was a high risk, high dependency patient. Without this care it is likely Richie would have died.

Richie stayed at the clinic until Monday morning and then was discharged back to his day time clinic for on-going treatment.

Richie is now recovering at home.

MAHVC have started a "reward" fund through ‘Give a Little’ Page, in the hope of finding who shot this cat with a slug gun. This reward will be paid out for a conviction leading to a prosecution. If the reward is not claimed the funds raised will be donated to Paw Justice for other cruelty and neglect cases. Someone must know something in our community!

Local Police and the SPCA are aware of this cause and are following up.

Unfortunately, there are some people who consider cats a nuisance and we would hate to think this is the outcome of those attitudes. To be shot three times with a slug gun, we suspect the attack was deliberate.

Let’s help to stop this from happening again!!