Who shot my cat?

7:30am Friday 15th March 2013 in News Sarah Hickinbotham By Sarah Davies

UPSET: Bex Swinbourne with two-year-old Dregen. 1013263001 UPSET: Bex Swinbourne with two-year-old Dregen. 1013263001

A BELOVED pet cat needed surgery after its shocked owners discovered it had been shot in the face with an airgun.

Jules and Rebecca Swinbourne, of Drakes Broughton, near Pershore, were horrified when X-rays of two-year-old Dregen revealed a metal .22 pellet buried in his chin.

The tabby cat had to undergo an operation to remove the foreign body and needed stitches, antibiotics and painkillers, but is now on the mend.

Mrs Swinbourne, who reported the incident to the police and the RSPCA, appealed to members of the public to help catch the perpetrators. The 28-year-old mum-to-be said: “It was about lunchtime on February 12 when Dregen came into the house and my husband said he didn’t look quite right.

“His chin was really swollen, so we took him to the vets and they thought he had probably been bitten by a rat.

“About two weeks later a hole opened up under his chin and we thought we could see a bit of metal in there.

“We took him back to the vets and an X-ray found an airgun pellet in his face.”

Surgery followed to remove the pellet and Dregen had to undergo a course of treatment to aid his recovery.

“He’s fine but we’re really upset,” Mrs Swinbourne said.

“We used to live in Worcester and two years ago our cat was poisoned. We moved out here thinking it was a safe place to live.

“I can’t believe someone would want to shoot my cat.”

Animal protection charity the RSPCA says shooting animals with an airgun is a “serious and illegal” act.

And a spokesman for West Mercia Police urged witnesses or members of the public who knew of anyone misusing an airgun in the area to get in touch.

He said: “It poses a danger not just to animals, but to residents as well.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting incident number 218-S-010313, or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 333111.

Comments(31)

katiekins says...
7:40am Fri 15 Mar 13

Well thats really head line news front page for that.Then a mother who nearly strangled her child get a little bit on page 3 some where mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

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TDH123 says...
8:22am Fri 15 Mar 13

Another glum looking photo opportunity though! Seriously, if the cat was shot deliberately that is awful.

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truth must out says...
10:34am Fri 15 Mar 13

Bit of a cat-astrophe.

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Name unknown says...
12:57pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Seriously people? Show some respect - if you're not animal lovers then don't read the article, but don't mock it either.

I'm glad that Dregen's doing ok now; it must be sickening to think that somebody's done that to your pet.

All the best for a speedy recovery :)

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katiekins says...
1:14pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Name unknown wrote:
Seriously people? Show some respect - if you're not animal lovers then don't read the article, but don't mock it either.

I'm glad that Dregen's doing ok now; it must be sickening to think that somebody's done that to your pet.

All the best for a speedy recovery :)
You have your opinion we have ours.The story about a little girl being hurt by her mother is a bit more important than some cat.

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katiekins says...
1:14pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Name unknown wrote:
Seriously people? Show some respect - if you're not animal lovers then don't read the article, but don't mock it either.

I'm glad that Dregen's doing ok now; it must be sickening to think that somebody's done that to your pet.

All the best for a speedy recovery :)
You have your opinion we have ours.The story about a little girl being hurt by her mother is a bit more important than some cat.

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Name unknown says...
1:18pm Fri 15 Mar 13

My apologies - showing respect is clearly beyond you

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Vox populi says...
1:49pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Contraversial Name unknown but people may have a different view:

I don't like cats and I get sick of cleaning up their faeces from my garden where they create a health risk to my children.

Your choice of pet results in mess in my garden and danger to my children.

I don't wish any harm to them however I can understand why somebody might be frustrated or harm one. In the same way as pigeons and seagulls are a nusiance in worcester so are many cats to everybody except their owners who are blind to this. :)

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Bexsunshine says...
1:53pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Disgusting!

Regardless of other headline stories this deserves to be in the paper just as much. A newspaper caters for a wide variety of people and their interests - not just the serious failings of society...

I have 3 cats and if anything like this had happened to one of mine i would too be upset.

More to the point someone out there obviously has some issues that need addressing and the police are using the media to assist just as much as the owner is ....

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Arthur Blenkinsop says...
2:16pm Fri 15 Mar 13

I'm with Vox! Nuisance is the word for cats - but i wouldn't want to see them harmed.

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topjock1972 says...
3:58pm Fri 15 Mar 13

cats are good for pest control and are also loving pets. if somebody is stupid enough to shoot at a cat then they are probably stupid enough to shoot at you. ...........

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littlejohn2 says...
5:23pm Fri 15 Mar 13

topjock1972 wrote:
cats are good for pest control and are also loving pets. if somebody is stupid enough to shoot at a cat then they are probably stupid enough to shoot at you. ...........
I hear they also make a good curry

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topjock1972 says...
6:01pm Fri 15 Mar 13

littlejohn2 wrote:
topjock1972 wrote:
cats are good for pest control and are also loving pets. if somebody is stupid enough to shoot at a cat then they are probably stupid enough to shoot at you. ...........
I hear they also make a good curry
headline should then be..... "the asda curry that got away"

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Letterman says...
10:08pm Fri 15 Mar 13

As a supposed nation of animal lovers it's curious that whenever there's an article in the WN about a cat that's been attacked or harmed, many people who post comments would actually see this as positive and would sooner see cats banished and killed. Seems many Worcester resident's dislike cats.

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goodygoody says...
10:20pm Fri 15 Mar 13

There is room in this newspaper for the report about the child and also about the cat. Because people are upset by the shooting of the cat doesn't mean they don't care about the child. They have enough compassion to be upset by both unlike some of you who like to joke about someone elses pain. Shame on you. And also this means there is some low life out there taking pot shots at living creatures.

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Pomygranit says...
6:55am Sat 16 Mar 13

topjock1972 wrote:
cats are good for pest control and are also loving pets. if somebody is stupid enough to shoot at a cat then they are probably stupid enough to shoot at you. ...........
When have Sparrows, Blue Tits, Robins etc been classified as pests. Cats do more damage to our wildlife more than any other creature other than man.
I agree it is in their instinct but they are not a native species.
They are the pest, if you have one keep it it the house and look after it just don't chuck it out at night

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Olley Owl Owd Betts Barn says...
9:00am Sat 16 Mar 13

First, may I offer Mr. & Mrs. Jules and Rebecca Swinbourne? My upper most sympathy about this dreadful treatment of their pet.
Concerning others who have contributed comments to this article. We will all have varying degrees of thought on this subject. Some will consider other stories more important than this.

I was raised to respect all types of life, with that now long gone attitude of calling someone older than I one of the following.” Neighbours = Mr. or Mrs. Followed by their surname, School Teachers = Miss, Mrs, Sir. On occasions followed by a surname. It was known as respect for your elders. Pets fell into other categories. If it was your pet, you had to feed it, keep its quarters clean, and most of all ensure it had plenty of exercise. My pet was loved and treated, as any animal should be. I tried to bring my family up in a similar way, unfortunately, times have changed, their pets soon became my pets, they still worshipped their pets, but other things became of interest to them. Currently we have four feral cats that we feed, and readily admit cats are free souls. They can upset keen gardeners, and pigeon fanciers. Cats are a predatory animal, who hunt all types of vermin and birds. We have aided the gardeners by creating a pet loo in our own garden which we sieve the soil and sand removing any faeces. Place them in a biodegradable bag at disposing them in our bin for land fill. Birds are the problem, if we placed bell collars on them it would also warn any vermin that cats were present.
We pet owners have a responsibility to those around us. Unfortunately, pigeon fanciers. On the other hand, person with aviaries are the cruellest and they will shoot at cats in the proximity of their aviary or pigeon loft.

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katiekins says...
9:03am Sat 16 Mar 13

Name unknown wrote:
My apologies - showing respect is clearly beyond you
Ditto.

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Olley Owl Owd Betts Barn says...
9:16am Sat 16 Mar 13

Name unknown wrote:
My apologies - showing respect is clearly beyond you
Bickering with each other will not solve anything.
Either you like animals or you do not
Please accept one another comments as being the personal
View of another individual, and not as basis to start world war III

Report this post »

Olley Owl Owd Betts Barn says...
9:17am Sat 16 Mar 13

katiekins wrote:
Name unknown wrote:
My apologies - showing respect is clearly beyond you
Ditto.
Bickering with each other will not solve anything.
Either you like animals or you do not
Please accept one another comments as being the personal
View of another individual, and not as basis to start world war III

Report this post »

topjock1972 says...
10:06am Sat 16 Mar 13

Pomygranit wrote:
topjock1972 wrote:
cats are good for pest control and are also loving pets. if somebody is stupid enough to shoot at a cat then they are probably stupid enough to shoot at you. ...........
When have Sparrows, Blue Tits, Robins etc been classified as pests. Cats do more damage to our wildlife more than any other creature other than man.
I agree it is in their instinct but they are not a native species.
They are the pest, if you have one keep it it the house and look after it just don't chuck it out at night
pomy..... you're the one that just classed them as pests. ........... anybody else would have read it as mice, rat's and all other sorts of fashion pets that were let loose into the wild.

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lizzyloolah says...
11:41am Sat 16 Mar 13

The mother who strangled her child. No names, no pictures and only the scrappiest of detail to protect the identity of the child. How large would the type need to be to fill the front page?

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Olley Owl Owd Betts Barn says...
11:58am Sat 16 Mar 13

goodygoody wrote:
There is room in this newspaper for the report about the child and also about the cat. Because people are upset by the shooting of the cat doesn't mean they don't care about the child. They have enough compassion to be upset by both unlike some of you who like to joke about someone elses pain. Shame on you. And also this means there is some low life out there taking pot shots at living creatures.
Excellent, How sensible your comment is.
With a mark of 10 out of ten
for common-sense, and understanding.

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pinkfluff says...
12:21pm Sat 16 Mar 13

Letterman wrote:
As a supposed nation of animal lovers it's curious that whenever there's an article in the WN about a cat that's been attacked or harmed, many people who post comments would actually see this as positive and would sooner see cats banished and killed. Seems many Worcester resident's dislike cats.
Indeed and judging by the comments posted on WN articles they also dislike......immigra
nts, politicians, Worcestershire County Council (especially the highways dept), Worcester City Council (they often confuse those two), teenagers, old people, disabled people, children, people on benefits, poor people, rich people, students, the NHS, landlords, tenants, swimming pools, no swimming pools, slow drivers, fast drivers, drivers, roundabouts, cyclists, pedestrians, taxi's, journalists, unsuccessful people, successful people, happy people, sad people, the Police, anyone in a position of authority, cats, dogs, seagulls, lights that are too bright, no lights, supermarkets, pavements, public transport, each other and anyone who has a lifestyle they are unable to comprehend.....to name a few.

Report this post »

Olley Owl Owd Betts Barn says...
12:37pm Sat 16 Mar 13

pinkfluff wrote:
Letterman wrote:
As a supposed nation of animal lovers it's curious that whenever there's an article in the WN about a cat that's been attacked or harmed, many people who post comments would actually see this as positive and would sooner see cats banished and killed. Seems many Worcester resident's dislike cats.
Indeed and judging by the comments posted on WN articles they also dislike......immigra

nts, politicians, Worcestershire County Council (especially the highways dept), Worcester City Council (they often confuse those two), teenagers, old people, disabled people, children, people on benefits, poor people, rich people, students, the NHS, landlords, tenants, swimming pools, no swimming pools, slow drivers, fast drivers, drivers, roundabouts, cyclists, pedestrians, taxi's, journalists, unsuccessful people, successful people, happy people, sad people, the Police, anyone in a position of authority, cats, dogs, seagulls, lights that are too bright, no lights, supermarkets, pavements, public transport, each other and anyone who has a lifestyle they are unable to comprehend.....to name a few.
You certainly keep your eye to the news.
However, I think you missed the story about those battery boxes having been legislated against.

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pinkfluff says...
12:54pm Sat 16 Mar 13

Olley Owl Owd Betts Barn wrote:
pinkfluff wrote:
Letterman wrote:
As a supposed nation of animal lovers it's curious that whenever there's an article in the WN about a cat that's been attacked or harmed, many people who post comments would actually see this as positive and would sooner see cats banished and killed. Seems many Worcester resident's dislike cats.
Indeed and judging by the comments posted on WN articles they also dislike......immigra


nts, politicians, Worcestershire County Council (especially the highways dept), Worcester City Council (they often confuse those two), teenagers, old people, disabled people, children, people on benefits, poor people, rich people, students, the NHS, landlords, tenants, swimming pools, no swimming pools, slow drivers, fast drivers, drivers, roundabouts, cyclists, pedestrians, taxi's, journalists, unsuccessful people, successful people, happy people, sad people, the Police, anyone in a position of authority, cats, dogs, seagulls, lights that are too bright, no lights, supermarkets, pavements, public transport, each other and anyone who has a lifestyle they are unable to comprehend.....to name a few.
You certainly keep your eye to the news.
However, I think you missed the story about those battery boxes having been legislated against.
Grrrrrr curse my useless brain!! How could I have missed out that?? Doh

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leemo79 says...
9:28pm Sat 16 Mar 13

littlejohn2 wrote:
topjock1972 wrote:
cats are good for pest control and are also loving pets. if somebody is stupid enough to shoot at a cat then they are probably stupid enough to shoot at you. ...........
I hear they also make a good curry
Tell that to the gentleman who gets his from asda. ;)

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katiekins says...
10:38pm Sat 16 Mar 13

Olley Owl Owd Betts Barn wrote:
katiekins wrote:
Name unknown wrote:
My apologies - showing respect is clearly beyond you
Ditto.
Bickering with each other will not solve anything.
Either you like animals or you do not
Please accept one another comments as being the personal
View of another individual, and not as basis to start world war III
Correct........

Report this post »

DarrenM says...
7:07pm Sun 17 Mar 13

while the animal cruelty is clearly very unpleasant the fact that Person Unknown thinks this is more important than a mother strangling her child is an even more a damming indictment of the depths society has sunk to.

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Illogik says...
8:20am Mon 18 Mar 13

Katiekins, did you create that profile just to Troll cat lovers on this article ? Thats's a bit twisted isn't it, as for the rest of you people supporting harming cats I hate you and woe betide anyone I catch torturing animals.

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Andy-Apache says...
12:29pm Mon 18 Mar 13

littlejohn2 wrote:
topjock1972 wrote:
cats are good for pest control and are also loving pets. if somebody is stupid enough to shoot at a cat then they are probably stupid enough to shoot at you. ...........
I hear they also make a good curry
"littlejohn2 says...
5:23pm Fri 15 Mar 13
...........
I hear they also make a good curry"


Our's doesn't - she never gets the balance of spices right...

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