Appeal launched after beloved Gorleston cat shot with air gun
12 year old Jazz had to be put down
Last updated 21st Sep 2023
The RSPCA's looking for information - after a cat in Gorleston had to be put down after it was shot with an air gun.
It happened on 25th August, when 12 year old Jazz failed to return to the family home in Warren Road.
Her family discovered her hiding under the sofa next morning, with a circular injury on her side.
They rushed her straight to a vet - where she was x-rayed and vets found Jazz had been shot with an air gun.
Scans showed the pellet had gone through one side of her body, damaging her internal organs and ending up lodged on the other side.
Due to the extent of her injuries and the significant internal bleeding, she was put to sleep as vets ruled nothing more could be done to help her.
The RSPCA says the family have been left shocked and devastated by what happened to Jazz - who they'd had since she was a kitten.
Jazz’s owner added: “During lockdown, Jazz was more than a cat; she was our young children's best friend. Now she's gone, and they're heartbroken. It's hard to grasp how someone could do this."
Jazz had also been rescued with her sister Ariel - who is also now pining and confused as to where her sister has gone.
RSPCA animal Inspector Dean Astillberry said: “It is devastating to hear what happened to poor Jazz and our hearts go out to her owners.
"Why someone would target an innocent animal like this I do not know - it is just cruel and so unnecessary. It leaves a family heartbroken and was a callous and cruel attack on a helpless and defenceless animal and I am horrified by what has happened."
Norfolk police are also investigating the incident, with officers carrying out door to door enquiries in the area.
The incident's also prompted the RSPCA to renew its calls to remove the loophole from firearm legislation which allows minors unsupervised possession of air weapons on private land, describing it as a ‘recipe for disaster’.
The UK Government agreed with this proposal and in July 2022 undertook to amend the Firearms Rules 1998 to strengthen controls on access to airguns by minors, but the RSPCA says this has yet to occur a year on.