An Angus pet owner has spoken of her disgust after two of her cats were shot.
Carol Simpson (43), from High Street, Brechin, was left panicked and furious after two of her much-loved pets were attacked between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning last week.
The shooting left one of her pets needing surgery and Carol is now scared to let her animals out of the house.
Carol told the Courier: ”I was hysterical when I found out what had happened. I had never been so angry.
”The cats are like my kids and I can’t let them out now. I’m not even letting my dog out because I’m thinking ‘is someone sitting out there with an air rifle?”’
Ms Simpson, a member of the Cats Protection Agency, let Thomas and Kenzi out on Wednesday evening. When the cats returned in the morning, Carol’s daughter found Thomas crying and noticed he had a hard lump under his skin.
”She discovered there was a hard bit towards his right-hand side, above his shoulder blade,” added Carol. ”You could feel a pellet in him so I phoned the vet and he was operated on immediately.
”I went back home and realised Kenzi had the same thing. I pulled the hard bit of fluff out and she had a sort of hole as well, but it hadn’t penetrated her skin.
”Both cats are home and they’re getting better now, but Thomas won’t leave my side and I can’t let them out. I want other people to be aware of what’s going on because I wouldn’t like it to happen to anyone else.”
A spokeswoman for Tayside Police confirmed they were looking into the incident.
Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn added: ”Animals are regularly the target of malicious airgun attacks and this continues to cause the society great concern. Cats are the most common target, followed by wildlife.
”Anyone who witnesses an airgun attack on an animal should contact the police or the Scottish SPCA animal helpline 03000 999 999.”