A PET cat has died after it was shot by what Police in South Herefordshire believe to be an air weapon. The incident happened between 5.30pm on Sunday 22nd and 10.30pm on Monday, March 23rd, somewhere in the Goodrich area, near Ross. The cat returned home with an injury which a subsequent examination by a vet revealed to be a wound made by air pellet. The missile had struck the cat in the left shoulder, continued through its neck and out through its right shoulder. The vet treated the injured animal but unfortunately the cat later died. Police are warning people in the Goodrich area to keep an eye on their pets wherever possible. Extra attention has been paid in the area by the Local Policing Team in an effort to identify the offender. PC Wendy Powell, Local Police Officer for the district, said: "I can't understand why anyone would want to shoot a cat in this way. The person responsible must realise that their actions not only cause pain to the animal but inflict a considerable amount of grief and anxiety on the pet's owner, not to mention the expense of a vet's intervention. "Harming an animal is serious enough but it only takes a slip or distraction on

the part of the weapon holder and next time a person might get injured. The use of air weapons is strictly controlled by law in the interests of safety and to legislate for offenders like this who ought to know better." Anyone with any information about this incident should contact George Roper in the Public Service Desk at Hereford Police Station on 0300 333 3000 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.