'I’m p****d off' - Sheffield man slams police response after cat shot dead

A man whose cat died after being shot three times with an air rifle has criticised the police’s response to the crime.
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Philip Swift’s young family was left “in pieces” when their beloved cat of 12 years Mitzy was put down on Saturday, 27 June after vets found three pellets inside her. He reported the incident to the police that afternoon but did not receive a response until Tuesday afternoon, when he was told via text message it would not be investigated further.

Philip said: “I’m p****d off. It’s someone taking pot shots, it could have hit a kid or anyone.

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“They just don’t seem to really be taking it seriously. It’s animal cruelty. It just seems that they are not doing a great deal about it.”

Caira, aged one, and Isla, aged seven, with Mitzy, who had been in the family for 12 years.Caira, aged one, and Isla, aged seven, with Mitzy, who had been in the family for 12 years.
Caira, aged one, and Isla, aged seven, with Mitzy, who had been in the family for 12 years.

A text from the police sent to Philip read: “We have made the decision to file the report as there are no immediate lines of enquiry. Although an officer will not attend on this occasion, details of this crime have been passed to our policing team for their awareness.

“No further updates will be made in relation to this crime unless any further information comes to light.”

Phillip, who has four young children, added: “They haven’t even been in contact, all I have had is that text when someone is letting rip on air rifles.

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“I was expecting a call back on Sunday of latest Monday. The kids are still upset by what’s happened.”

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “Shortly before 5.30pm on Saturday (June 27), police received a report that a man’s cat had been shot with an air rifle.

“The owner stated he believed the injury had occurred earlier in the week. The cat had been acting strangely for a few days and when he took it to the vet the pellets were discovered.

“This will, of course, have been a very upsetting and distressing incident for the cat’s owner, and any pain or suffering caused to an animal is unacceptable.

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“Unfortunately, suspects are yet to be identified in this case. If anybody has any information which could assist us, we’d ask you to contact us on 101 quoting incident number 777 of the 27 June 2020.”