Weapons used on animals in 20 incidents in Surrey
The shocking statistics have been revealed by the RSPCA
Weapons have been used on animals 20 times in Surrey since the start of 2020.
The shocking statistics have been released by the RSPCA, who have revealed that air guns, catapults, slingshots and crossbows have been used to target and kill wildlife and pets.
Since the beginning of 2020 (up to May 2023), the RSPCA received 808 reports relating to animals being intentionally harmed with a weapon across England and Wales - with 63 of these incidents happening in Wales.
Air guns and rifles were responsible for the bulk of the incidents, with 658 reports made to the charity; but weapons such as catapults and slingshots accounted for a combined 124 incidents while there were 34 calls to the RSPCA about crossbow incidents.
"It's the trauma for the owner of the pet."
The UK’s under-threat wildlife tragically bore the brunt of the attacks, with 841 wild birds - including waterfowl and marine birds - shot by a gun or crossbow or hit by a catapult since the beginning of 2020.
Shockingly, pet cats were also a prime target, with 262 cats deliberately attacked with weapons, followed by wild mammals (82), dogs (59), farm animals (41) and equines (26).
Rob Jackson, who's the RSPCA Chief Inspector for Surrey, said that many can suffer because of these incidents. "It's not only the animal that suffers and sometimes dies, it's the trauma for the owner of that pet, and of course it's very distressing for my officers to go out and have to deal with an animal that's been deliberately harmed and deliberately hurt."