23 December 2023 , 22:53
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A £3,500 reward is being offered to locate a cat killer after a pet was hung from a fence closeby to a primary school whilst it was alive.
PETA is offering money to anyone who has information which could lead to the arrest and conviction of whoever committed the crime. The hunt started after a female cat with white fur was found dead by primary school staff in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, on 13 November.
The cat was found hanged with a belt, with scratch marks and teeth embedded in the fence, suggesting it was still alive after being attacked. RSPCA inspector Richard Carr, who is now investigating, said: “This is truly a horrible incident of animal cruelty. The cat’s body was found hanging by a belt on the fence right outside the school nursery where very young children could have seen.
“Fortunately, the staff got there in time and blocked the view off before the police arrived. It does appear the cat was alive when she was placed on the fence and sadly there was evidence of her struggling to bite herself free.
“It really beggars belief why someone would commit an act as cruel and sick as this. There does not appear to be any CCTV cameras covering this location, so we would urge anyone with any information to get in touch with the RSPCA.”
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The cat wasn't microchipped but inspector Richard believes she belonged to someone and was not feral. He thinks the act was undertaken between the evening of Friday 10 November and Monday 13 November.
The cat wasn't microchipped but inspector Richard believes she belonged to someone and was not feral (Getty Images/iStockphoto)The height of the belt on the fence rules out the possibility of someone trying to abandon the cat tied to the fence, which shows it was a purposeful act of intentional harm. The feline would have tried to outmanoeuvre her killers, prompting animal charity PETA to brand the killers "a danger to everyone".
PETA vice-president Elisa Allen said: “Any community faced with cruel and callous acts such as this must take measures to find the culprit and bring them to justice. Animal abusers are a danger to everyone.
"They take their issues out on whoever is available to them – humans or other animals – and must be caught before they act again." Anyone with information that could lead to the killer, or who may know the cat or her owner, is encouraged to contact the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018.