Grief over pet cat spurs Northamptonshire family to campaign for air gun restrictions

A couple from Northamptonshire are campaigning for the licensing of air guns in England after losing their cat to an air gun attack in the spring.   

Suresh and Arpana Dhanda, of Redding Close, Rushden, have been handing out home-made leaflets urging support for a Cats Protection petition calling for the licencing of air weapons in England and Wales.

They launched their action after their two-year-old cat Mochi was shot earlier this year. He staggered home and began to suffer episodes of vomiting and diarrhoea. Suresh and Arpana rushed Mochi to a local vet but after bravely fighting for two days, he sadly passed away. A single pellet, which travelled from his chest through to his abdomen, had caused a collapsed lung and septic shock.

The couple reported the shooting to the police and were dismayed to learn there was little chance of finding the perpetrator because it is legal for anyone aged 18 or over in England and Wales to buy and own an air weapon without a licence. 

Suresh said: “Mochi death’s was a shock to us and our local community. He was such an affectionate cat that was loved by everyone. He’d bound up to our neighbours to say hello or pop up at their window when they had dinner. He’s much-missed by everyone.

“As well as leafleting in the local area, Arpana and I have written to the Home Office to express how profoundly wrong the situation is. Local people have expressed shock, horror and disgust that someone could deliberately harm an innocent animal using an air weapon and then just walk away with impunity.”

Tom Taylor, Campaigns and Advocacy Officer for Cats Protection said: “Poor Mochi was one of 293 cats killed or injured by air guns in England across the past five years and that’s the tip of the iceberg because tragically many cats that have been shot won’t make it home, meaning owners never know what became of them.

“In contrast attacks on cats in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where air guns are licenced, are considerably less frequent. Licencing will greatly improve accountability and traceability whenever these weapons are used irresponsibly and help to protect pets, people and the wider community.

“The Cats Protection petition has already attracted more than 130,000 signatures from concerned cat lovers across the UK, and more signatures will help us to continue to press Westminster on the issue.”

Cats Protection advises anyone who comes across an act of cruelty to an animal to please report it to the RSPCA or Police promptly, and if possible, to take the injured animal to a local vet. The charity also recommends that pet cats are kept in at night and that they are neutered as it makes them less likely to roam and become lost from their homes.

Cat lovers can sign the Cats Protection petition here  https://action.cats.org.uk/page/138372/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=old2017page