Police are investigating after a pet cat lost his eye after being shot more than 20 times.
Teddy is believed to have been "trapped and used as target practice" after returning home with horrific air gun injuries three days before Christmas .
The much-loved pet has lost an eye as a result of his ordeal, and his heartbroken owner Joan Sams says he "wakes up shaking with fear".
Joan, 63, let both her cats out of her home in Walker , on the Thursday before Christmas, but didn't see Teddy again for three days.
When he returned home, his devastated owner thought he had been hit by a car because he was in such a bad state.
He was taken to the PDSA Pet Hospital on Ponteland Road, where a vet found his injuries were not consistent with being hit by a car.
Staff X-rayed him and discovered that he had been shot upwards of 20 times with an air gun.
Defenceless Teddy had even been shot through his left eye, which had to be removed.
Now Northumbria Police are asking for anyone with any information to come forward.
A spokesperson for the force said: "We can confirm that on December 23 we received a report that a cat had suffered multiple injuries caused by a suspected air gun.
"The cat had been missing from an address in the Chatsworth Gardens area of Walker days earlier, but when it returned, the owner found the animal had been severely injured.
"We would ask anybody who has any information to call 101 quoting reference 718 231219 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
