A Lincoln resident has expressed her profound distress after her seven-month-old kitten was shot in the face with what is thought to be an air rifle pellet. Kelly Burns, 43, initially believed her kitten, Poppy, had been involved in a fight with another cat when she found it injured in her garden on 16 June, its face covered in blood. However, a subsequent X-ray revealed the true cause of the injury: a pellet lodged in the animal's jaw.
Ms Burns described feeling a mix of "rage and sorrow" upon learning the diagnosis from the vet. She stated her intention to proceed with a surgical operation to remove the pellet, estimated to cost around £4,500. The incident has been reported to Lincolnshire Police, who confirmed they are reviewing lines of inquiry. A spokesperson for the force acknowledged the incident as "distressing for the owner" and noted that no other similar incidents have been reported in the area.
Air weapons in England and Wales are subject to specific regulations; individuals must be 18 or older to purchase them and their ammunition. Furthermore, it is an offence to possess an air weapon in a public place without a valid reason or to fire one beyond the boundaries of private property. Causing unnecessary suffering to a pet is also a criminal offence. Ms Burns voiced her anger, questioning the motives of anyone who would intentionally harm an innocent animal.
The RSPCA has highlighted the broader issue of air gun attacks, revealing that the charity receives an "alarming number of calls" annually to investigate such shootings, with domestic cats and wildlife being the most frequent victims. The organisation has reiterated its call for "stricter regulations" on air weapons, arguing that it remains too easy for individuals to acquire them without adequate safety training or understanding of their potential impact.
This incident follows a previous warning issued by Lincolnshire Police in December, concerning wildlife being targeted with high-powered catapults firing ball bearings. The repeated targeting of animals in the region underscores ongoing concerns about the misuse of projectile weapons and their devastating consequences for local pet owners and wildlife.