Each year thousands of animals and birds are injured and killed by adults and youngsters with air weapons, shotguns, and airsoft / bb guns.
Cats are the most numerous victims of these random acts of cruelty, and owners are faced with bills for veterinary treatment. The perpetrators are rarely brought to justice despite the fact that any person who deliberately shoots a domestic pet/other animal may be guilty of the following offences:-
1. Causing unnecessary suffering to an animal (s.4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006)
2. Criminal damage (s.1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1977)
3. Harassment (s.2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997) - if there are two or more incidents.
A free Pet Owners Fact sheet, giving general legal advice regarding prosecution following acts of animal cruelty is published by Gun Control Network at www.gun-control-network.org
We note that there seems to be a reluctance from Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to proceed through the Courts in animal cruelty cases involving perpetrators with airguns who have killed or injured cats. Some cases have been privately prosecuted in civil actions and owners have been successful in being reimbursed for vet etc. fees. However, there are a number of occasions when prosecutions do follow the shooting of cats.
For example:-
Eric Reeves, 68, admitted causing unnecessary suffering after he shot his neighbour's cat with an air rifle in Norfolk. The air gun pellet punctured the cat's intestine but it survived. Reeves, a 'bird lover' who apparently shot the cat for chasing birds, was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work and was fined £400.
Source: Daily Mail 28 October 2011
RECENT INCIDENTS
Someone shot a foal with an air gun in Soutwick, Wiltshire. The 18-month-old horse was left with an air pellet lodged in her hind leg. The 'flabbergasted' owners said they were concerned about the risk of infection and it wasn't immediately known whether the pellet would cause long-term damage.
Source:- Shoreham Herald, 28 November 2011
John Tibbles has been jailed for three years for shooting two horses and a calf in Derbyshire. He reportedly acted out a 'violent fantasy' of shooting animals, and didn't have any link with the animals' owner. Tibbles admitted possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a firearm without a certificate and two charges of destroying property. Police reportedly recovered a firearm during their investigation.
Source: Buxton Advertiser, 11 November 2011
Steven Salt, 18, has been sentenced to an 18-week prison sentence and 100 hours of unpaid community work after he shot a pigeon in a park in Staffordshire for a meal. The homeless 18-year-old shot the bird twice with a loaded air weapon before police responded to an alarm raised by a member of the public. Salt admitted possession of a loaded air weapon and shooting the gun in a public park.
Source: The Sentinel, l5 October 2011
A rare bird of prey was shot near Rugby, Warwickshire. The marsh harrier, a protected species with only 360 breeding pairs alive in the UK, had a broken wing believed to be caused by a shotgun blast. The bird underwent surgery on his wing and a broken leg but vets do not think it will be able to return to the wild.
Source: Coventry Telegraph, 6 October 2011
A cat was shot with an air gun and another was set on fire in Tamworth, Staffordshire. The animal that suffered the first wound was shot through the eye and had its jaw fractured. She had her eye removed in a subsequent operation. Meanwhile, the other cat, who is 15 years old, had his face set on fire. He survived but suffered severe wounds.
Source: Tamworth Herald, 14 October 2011
A horse found with facial wounds in East Preston, Sussex, is believed to have been shot with an air rifle.
Source:- Horse and Hound, 24 March 2010
Injured Buzzard - Wildlives Animal Rescue Centre Nr Colchester are caring for a buzzard which has been shot and injured. Buzzards are a 'protected bird of prey' however, sports shooters and game-keepers are known to dislike buzzards because they prey on species hunted by shooting enthusiasts. For more information on Wildlives Centre click here
DOGS SHOT AND KILLED WITH AIRGUNS
Michael Reed from Rugeley, Staffordshire, shot and killed his neighbour's dog with an air rifle when she strayed on his lawn. He had been drinking at the time of the incident. He has admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and been fined £500 and told to pay £500 compensation. The gun was confiscated. He says he does not know why he did it.
Source: The Sun, 5 March 2010
As well as using animals as random target practice there are occasions when guns are used deliberately to shoot pets eg. in neighbour disputes.
For example:-
Phil Bishop, a retired TV executive shot dead his neighbour's dog with a single shot from his air rifle after becoming annoyed at its early morning barking. The dog, Foggy, died minutes later in the arms of its sobbing owner on the way to the vet.
Source:- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1089995/Ex-TV-chief-shot-neighbours-dog-dead-barking-morning.html
A pet greyhound has been shot in fields near Dickets Road, Corsham. The owner and her five year old son were walking the greyhound and their two other pet dogs when two shots were fired. The dog was hit but ran off and was found collapsed a while later. A man in a black balaclava and a grey tracksuit was seen running away. The dog is recovering after veterinary treatment. The five year old boy who witnessed the shooting has been traumatised by the event and has had nightmares. He is afraid to go outside in case he gets shot like his dog.
Source: Wiltshire Times (21.3.09)
WHAT TO DO IF YOU OBSERVE A GUN INCIDENT
Animal Concern Advice Line recommend that anyone witnessing a gun incident should dial 999. This ensures a response.
They also recommend asking police for an incident number and following up reports to find out what happened by quoting this number.
Carrying an uncovered gun, including an airgun, in a public place, or discharging a gun in a public place or near a public highway, is a crime. In these instances Animal Concern Advice Line advise witnesses to tell the police they know a crime has been committed. To see factsheets and find out more about Animal Concern Advice Line click here
Wildlife Crime
Under present law committing wildlife crime cannot be used as a reason for withdrawing a shotgun certificate, and is open to interpretation regarding firearms. Dr. Bill Wilson, SNP www.billwilsonmsp.org has called for a change in the law so that those found guilty of wildlife crime should be regarded as unfit to hold shotguns or firearms.
BB TYPE GUNS ARE USED IN ANIMAL CRUELTY
bb and other similar guns are used in incidents of animal cruelty.
For example:-
A woman was in her garden in Sunbury, Surrey, when she saw a bird shot dead in front of her. The dove was in a nearby tree. As many as three other birds may have been killed in recent weeks. Some shells, possibly containing ball bearings, were found nearby.
Source: Get Surrey, 6 August 2010
