A CAT has been left paralysed after being shot with an air rifle in Benfleet.

Bella, a black and white short-haired cat, managed to limp home to her owner Scott Smith muddied and covered with blood.

Mr Smith, 23, from Lodge Close, took Bella to the vets where she was given an X-ray and then had an air rifle pellet removed from her back.

He said: “It is just cruel and sick-minded.

I treat my pet almost like a human so I don’t know why someone would do such a thing.

“She’s definitely not herself and she can’t walk at the minute. I don’t know if she was shot out of a tree, but she seems to have fallen and hurt herself as well.

“She was covered in mud and blood when she got home. The vet saw the wound and thought she may have been bitten, but then she had an X-ray and they found the pellet.

“She never goes far from the house. If I go outside and call her then she’ll always come running within a minute, so it must be someone local responsible for doing this.”

Mr Smith lives at home with his mother, Jill, and they have been taking care of Bella while she recuperates.

After the incident Mr Smith was talking to a neighbour, who told him their cat, also black and white, had also been shot four months ago.

Mr Smith added: “They’re nearly identical.

It is strange for two black and white cats to be shot so close together. It makes you wonder if someone is targeting them.”

Mr Smith reported has reported the incident to the police, along with the previous shooting of their neighbour’s cat.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Police were called at 8.45pm on Sunday, March 29, to reports a cat had been shot with an air rifle. We have conducted house to house inquiries and investigations are continuing.”

Vets treat dog poisoning

A SOUTHEND vet’s confirmed it has treated several cases of poisoning to dogs after they were walked in Cherry Orchard Country Park in Rochford.

Two dogs died after picking up poison in Hadleigh Park and a field in Leigh earlier this year.

Medivet, in Eastwoodbury Lane, Southend, has confirmed it treated several poisoning cases.

They have advised pet owners to watch their dog at all times, keep the animal on a lead, or if that is not possible, consider a muzzle.

However Michelle Rawson, neighbourhood constable for Rochford, said the incidents could not be declared deliberate.

She said: “I have made inquiries with the vets and checked our systems and, at this time, I cannot find any evidence that substantiates concerns there is any deliberate poisoning of dogs going on.

“I would always advise visitors to the parks to be vigilant.

“I will continue with my investigations and let people know if we receive any information to the contrary.

“We would always ask anyone who believes their pet has been poisoned to make contact with the council or landowners, and report any incidents to the police.”