Airgun attacks spark 'grave' concern

3:56pm Wednesday 20th February 2008

• Listen to Podcast

The killing and maiming of animals because of airgun attacks is causing grave concern.

The RSPCA says that it is being inundated with calls about animals that have been deliberately targeted in sickening attacks, which all too often leave them dead or fighting for their lives.

Today the Society is launching a regional campaign to raise awareness of the dangers air guns pose and halt their widespread abuse of animals in the district.

The most common targets are cats, wild birds and water birds, although, wild mammals and dogs are also regularly killed or injured by air guns.

In 2007, the north region received: A total of 197 calls regarding air gun incidents Seventy-six calls regarding injured cats Fifty-five calls about wild birds that had been shot Twenty-two calls about injured water birds Twenty-one calls about injured dogs Sixteen calls concerning shot wild mammals.

For a more details on the latest campiagn visit thelancasterandmorecambecitizen.co.uk/news/lancasterpodcastnews/ to hear from the RSPCA's Regional superintendent David Millard.

Editor's Choice