In the UK, the RSPCA report a sharp rise in pets being shot at with airguns and have suggested that the popularity of violent video games may be a factor combined with boredom. And what about a lack of parental guidance?
In 2015, thus far, there have been 48 reports to the RSPCA of airgun shootings. At the same time in 2014, there were 18; a 170% increase.
Forty percent of veterinarians affiliated to the British Veterinary Association report dealing with airgun or crossbow injuries to pets.
A vet said:
“The majority are clearly inflicted by low-powered airguns at close range. This suggests children who have been given airguns and are looking for something to shoot….”
Close range? This is incredibly cruel behavior. Have these children and youths lost their moral compass or did they have one in the first place?
An example of this unhappy trend is Angel, a female black and white cat. She crawled home one day. Her caretakers thought that she had been hit by a car.
Their veterinarian diagnosed a pellet wound in her side, which had penetrated her stomach. Her injuries were serious enough for a decision to be made to euthanise her.
Eight miles from Angel’s attack, Wilma, a tabby, was shot about a fortnight ago. It might be the same person doing the shooting.
In the UK, based on my experience of reading about random attacks on cats, airgun and arrow attacks are by far the most common.
Whilst trying to avoid stereotypes, the indication is that bored male youths are idly taking pot shots at wandering cats with the new ‘toy’ that their Dad bought them: a airgun. Although it is an offence, in the UK, for a person under 18 to be given such a weapon or to buy or hire one.
When I was their age, there were no personal computers. The violent video game, often played online internationally, is a new phenomenon and it is disturbing in colouring the attitude of youths to violence, rendering it painless and a turning it into a game.
Airguns don’t require a license in the UK. They are the equivalent of BB guns in the USA.
“Air weapons cause a huge amount of unnecessary suffering and no one should ever be using them on an animal.” (Adam Jones, RSPCA Inspector)
Source: The RSPCA blames video games …..
It is a shame that no one is willing to take responsibility for his/her own actions. About 30-35 years ago, my sister rescued a cat who had been shot with pellet/bb guns repeatedly. She and my mother had to remove the shot from the cat. He suffered PTSD just like war veterans.
Back then, there was no internet or readily available video games like today. If you wanted to play a video game, you had to go to the video arcade and pay a minimum of a quarter per play. The youths who shot that cat didn’t live near an arcade; the closest was at least 30 miles away. They were just sick and twisted individuals who thought torture is fun. Maybe they didn’t have enough parental guidance, but this sort of behavior can’t be cured with parental guidance, only postponed. I know several such people, many with good parents, who never out grew that behavior. They just turned that “need” towards swindling and cheating people.
This sort of sick behavior has been going on since the dawn of man. Only recently have the guilty been excused because of societal influences.
Absolutely yes. Everything you say I completely agree with and it’s about time a commitment to good parenting was demonstrated. I don’t want to be overly critical but there appears to be too many feckless parents.
The shooting at animals with air guns even low power, shows a basic disregard for life. How long before some of these youths start shooting at people with something more powerful than an air gun!! Parents, get your parenting skills in order while there is still time!!
How many people “throw their cats where they will be run over”? For God’s sake Woody grow up. People don’t throw their cats under cars. It is only people like you who throw their cats from cars!
“And what about a lack of parental guidance?”
Precisely! What about that lack of parental guidance? Why do people keep throwing their cats where they will be ran-over, eat poison, or be shot to death? Did they all just get their first kitty from mum and were never given instructions on how to properly love a pet and keep it safe from all harms? Must be.