A heartbroken north-east pet owner has told of her fears that her beloved cat may lose a limb after being shot by in a late-night attack.
Angela Wood, 46, woke up to find nine-month-old Charlie at the bottom of her garden, unable to move and with a severely injured leg.
She feared he had been hit by a car or fallen from a tree – but a visit to the vet and an X-ray revealed he had been shot.
The bullet is still in the cat and the type of gun it was fired from is yet to be determined.
Mrs Wood, a service manager who stays in Aberdeen’s Buckburn area, reported the attack to the police and is taking Charlie to the vet again today to have the extent of his injuries fully assessed.
Last night she said she was “totally shocked” by the incident and added it looked likely the young cat would have to have his “completely shattered” leg amputated.
She said: “I went out as usual to get our cats back in after putting them out at night – usually they’re waiting at the back door to get in.
“But I noticed a couple of spots of blood just outside the back door and spotted Charlie and Poppy lying down at the back.
“Poppy saw me and walked towards me but Charlie couldn’t get up.
“I went over to him and it looked like he had a really bad broken leg. I thought he’d been hit by a car or something.
“But when we took him to the vet they X-rayed him and told us he’d been shot. I couldn’t believe my ears.
“I saw the X-ray and his leg was just completely shattered.
“Charlie is home on cage rest with plenty pain relief to let his body get over the shock but he is back to the vet first thing tomorrow and looking likely that he will have to have his leg amputated.
“I don’t understand why anyone would do this. We live in a housing estate so it’s not like there are farmers about or anyone who would need a gun.
“Also, Charlie doesn’t go far from home so I think it must have been someone local.
“I don’t think my opinion of the person or people who did this could be printed in a newspaper.”
Mrs Wood said she would have to wait to see the full-extent of the damage later today before she started making plans for helping Charlie.
She said: “He’s the most laid back cat I’ve ever owned, he’s so friendly and nice to people that it’s just so sad to think he might not be able to walk properly again. He’s only nine-months old.
“I was just in a state of total shock when I found out, I really couldn’t believe it.
“But now I’m beginning to feel really angry about it.
“I just hope whoever did it is caught soon.”
Police are investigating the incident and have urged anyone with information to contact them on 101.