Warning as Charity Fears Rising Air Weapon Attacks on Animals
Published on June 23, 2009 by The RSPCA · 3 CommentsRSPCA Fears Summertime Soar Of Air Gun Attacks: Hundreds of animals are suffering slow and agonising deaths every year due to the ruthless actions of airgun users, reveals the RSPCA.
Every summer, the Society is bombarded with calls from the public reporting cases of animals that have been seriously injured or killed after being deliberately shot by an air gun.
The vast majority of calls from the public voicing concerns about air gun attacks are received during the school holidays and the lighter summer evenings and the RSPCA is bracing itself for another influx of calls in the coming months.
Already this year, the charity has been inundated with more than 300 calls about air gun attacks and dealt with some horrific cases of animals being seriously injured in these mindless attacks.
Last year, the RSPCA dealt with a total of 759 animals who had been affected by the improper use of airguns and in the period 2005-2008, nearly 2,000 calls were received with people voicing their concerns.
However it believes that the actual number of cases may be much higher as many injured animals will look for a well-wooded or sheltered area in which to die so the RSPCA may not be contacted.
Animals such as cats and wild birds are sadly the usual targets for these callous acts but the offence all too frequently extends to dogs, fish and even horses.
The RSPCA’s chief veterinary officer Steve Cheetham said: “Unfortunately, we do see far too many cases of injuries inflicted by air guns every year. Many of these injuries are fatal but even those animals who are lucky enough to survive can have their quality of life significantly reduced.
“It is very distressing to think that people take pleasure in causing such horrific injuries to defenceless animals. These are deliberate acts of cruelty and I would appeal to people’s consciences not to commit such an atrocious offence.”
The RSPCA is reminding parents and teenagers of the penalties faced if caught deliberately using an air gun to injure an animal. Under the Animal Welfare Act, those causing unnecessary suffering to animals face a £20,000 fine and/or up to six months in prison.
It is also illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to be in possession of an airgun without supervision under the Violent Crime Reduction Bill 2006.
Anyone who witnesses an attack can report it by calling to RSPCA 24-hour cruelty and advice line on 0300 1234 999.
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Tags: Animal Charities, Animal Cruelty
You know, it occurs to me that Britain ought to spend less time worrying about “dangerous dogs”, and more time worrying about dangerous PEOPLE. Honestly, the numbers of people and innocent animals who are senselessly killed by HUMANS far, far FAR outnumber the relative few who have ever been harmed or killed by a “dangerous” dog. Humans are by far the most dangerous animal out there. It’s about time Britain learned that killing a bunch of tough looking dogs is not the answer to keeping members of its society; both human and animal kind, safe. Maybe it’s time to start rounding up vicious, unbalanced people who cause harm or death to others, and euthanize them if they are deemed to be a certain “type”. Makes alot more sense than what Britain’s actually doing. That’s my two cents..or pence
I have worked within the realms of wildlife rehabilitation for over 40 years and have noticed an ever growing increase in airgun misuse to both domestic pets and wildlife. I as an invited consultee in the AW bill consultation raised the issue that airgun ownership should be raised to 21 and to introduce a licensing scheme similar to shotgun certificates soas to make all airgun owners more responsible and accountable. To my suprise the response from, then Animal welfare Minister “Elliott Morley MP ” was “Airguns are not an animal welfare issue”.
A golden opportunity missed and as airgun crime on animals increases another endorsement that the Animal welfare Act 2006 has failed to improve and safeguard animals.
We handle in excess of 4000 birds a year and see an increase in airgun shootings throughout the School holidays and although the mail order purchases of airguns has been banned airguns are still all too easily purchased.
From a wildlife aspect the Police in reality do nothing in apprehending the airgun morons but as the attacks increase on domestic animals hopefully better legislation can be introduced. week in week out we read of more and more cats being targetted and I question that this is not only the yob element but in many cases perhaps fed up irate neighbours that are angered when their gardens are dug up messed in or the fact that the increasing number of moggies are killing all the garden birds.
Cat owners do not need to be responsible animal keepers and to many people are an ideal modern pet that needs very little time or attention, not for everyone but unfortunately when someone gets a cat the neighbours get a cat.
Recently I was walking in a wooded area near my home with my 3 staffordshire bull terriers the youngest of which is 5 months old when my eldest staffy, who is 4, was sniffing in the bushes and let out a horrendous scream and charged back to me shaking and wimpering.
I took all the dogs back to the car where i checked him over to find a slight wound on his shoulder and on his rump. i took them home and managed to squeezed the metal pelets out the wound and treated him with advice from my vet. he is now fine and much better but some people are sick and twisted when they think its funny to do this.
i know what i would of liked to do if i ever caught the person who shot my dog but there again id get done for “human” cruelty.