A vets in Carmarthenshire has issued a warning to pet owners after it saw three different cases of cats being shot in the area.
Bush House Veterinary Group in Llandeilo had three cases of cats being brought to its surgery after the animals were not feeling well.
After performing x-rays the vets confirmed it had found pellets in the animals which were believed to have been shot whilst out in Ammanford and Llandeilo .
One case was of an 11-month-old named Murphy whose owners brought their pet to the vets after they were presenting as 'lameness' or limping.
Murphy was shot in the shoulder near Colonel Road in Ammanford.
Posting on its social media page the vet group said: "Warning to pet owners in Ammanford and Llandeilo area.
"We have had three cases brought in to our surgeries in the last couple of weeks from different areas of cats being shot whilst out.
"Murphy is only 11 months old and was brought to us presenting lameness from the weekend. We took x-rays and confirmed he had been shot in his shoulder. This happened on or near colonel road in Ammanford.
"Please be vigilant and contact the police if you have any information of who could be responsible for this terrible act."
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Last year, the RSPCA called for controls on sales of air guns after seeing 767 horrific attacks and some fatalities on pets in England and Wales in 2018.
Speaking in 2019, Mr Dermot Murphy, RSPCA chief inspectorate officer, said: “During last year alone, we received 767 reports of attacks where air guns were used on animals across England and Wales.
"Animals are suffering horrendous injuries and often dying as a result of airgun attacks and these weapons are also potentially extremely dangerous for people."
He added: “Every one of the 258 pet cats and 73 dogs deliberately killed or maimed last year by people using air guns represents a devastated family. And the cruelty continues, with large numbers of wild mammals and birds, including foxes, squirrels, swans, gulls and pigeons targeted as well.
“We believe air gun misuse is happening on a large scale and what we see at the RSPCA could be the tip of the iceberg. We believe that stricter controls are long overdue.
"Mandatory licensing would be an effective start, but we also need improved enforcement of airgun legislation as well as better, more targeted education and explanation of the law for those buying one.”
