Family devastated after cat shot dead and kitten badly injured in Exeter

EXETER cat owners are being warned to take extras care of their pets after two were shot, one fatally, in Exwick.

The loss has devastated Zoe Butterworth, 25, of Farm Hill, Exwick, and her young children.

Zoe's cat, four-year-old Missy was shot at close range in Guinness Lane, Exwick, the airgun pellet piercing her spine and leaving her paralysed.

She was taken to a veterinary surgery but the injury was too grave and Missy had to be put down.

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Zoe only  found out when she phoned around vets' after Missy went missing.

Now Missy's kitten Sonja has also been shot, again by an airgun, this time the lead pellet piercing her collar and lodging itself in her neck.

The four-month old cat was rushed to a vets and the pellet removed.

Said Mrs Butterworth: "It is absolutely terrible that someone should be going around doing this. Missy would not go near people so we think someone must have grabbed her to shoot her like they did at such close range.

"They then left her paralysed and in terrible pain in the lane.

"Who could do such a cruel thing?

Earlier this month Police asked the public for information after two boys were seen shooting an air rifle at birds.

The incident happened at around 4.30 p.m. on Thursday 28 February 2013 in the car park near to bridge at Bromhams car park in Exeter.

Officers are keen to speak to people who may have witnessed the incident or saw the boys with the weapon.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or the police switchboard on 101 quoting crime reference DE/13/1948