RSPCA Victoria is appealing for information following two suspected incidents of animal cruelty in Echuca.
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Reader advice: this story contains images and descriptions of harm to animals.
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Two incidents of suspected animal cruelty are being investigated in Echuca, prompting RSPCA inspectors to call for public assistance.
The suspected attacks occurred at Struve Crt and Minor St on Tuesday, September 16 and between Sunday and Monday, October 5 to 6, respectively.
A silver and smoke-coloured ragdoll cat was found at Struve Crt with a broken jaw and severe injuries that indicated possible torture, according to RSPCA Victoria.
At the Minor St address, a tabby-coloured cat returned home with several injuries that indicated it was deliberately hurt, and a bullet casing zip-tied around its neck.
The cat at Minor St had two zip ties around its neck with a bullet casing attached.
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Brigid Dullard, who owns Milo, the Minor St cat, said she initially thought someone had tied a note to her cat’s neck as it had escaped through a broken flap while she was at work.
“Then I spun it around and realised there was a shotgun shell casing threaded on to the zip tie,” she said.
On Milo’s head and legs were wounds similar to carpet or gravel burn, and his nails and front paw pads were severely injured.
Ms Dullard was told the injuries were similar to those of being struck by a vehicle, but she didn’t believe what happened to Milo was an accident.
“That’s not a heat-of-the-moment kind of thing: that’s calculated. That takes time,” she said.
“They’d have to trap Milo somewhere, go and find an old shotgun shell, punch a hole in it, thread it into zip ties, and then put that around the cat’s neck. That’s sick.”
The gravel or carpet-type burns on Milo’s head.
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Ms Dullard assumed the bullet casing was meant as a threat, either to her or the cat, and said she found it alarming someone who lived nearby her would make such an extreme gesture.
Fortunately, Milo is on the mend and showing his personality again, and Ms Dullard said the community had shown her great support, which she was incredibly grateful for.
Now, she only hoped that anyone responsible for the injuries was held to account.
“I hope this person is found and stopped so they're not able to do this ever again,” Ms Dullard said.
“He’s a cat ... nothing he could ever do could justify what this person has done to him.”
A scrape on Milo’s arm.
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The RSPCA said it was taking the matter very seriously and would pursue all avenues of inquiry to bring anyone allegedly involved in aggravated cruelty offences to justice.
Those found guilty of deliberately harming an animal commits an offence, and can face a penalty of over $50,000 or 12 months’ imprisonment.
If the offence results in the death or serious disablement of an animal, the penalty can be up to more than $101,000 or two years’ imprisonment.
Anyone with information is urged to phone RSPCA Inspector Collier on 9224 2222 and advise you have information related to case reference number 501238.
All calls and information provided will be treated as strictly confidential.
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