Pet lover Joanne Robinson is appealing for help to track down a cruel sniper who shot her cat with an air rifle.

Joanne found her three-year-old cat Gumpy bleeding on her doorstep in Dunlop Road, Tilbury, and he needed surgery to remove the pellet.

Joanne said: "He had been hit under his right, front leg and was bleeding quite badly. But he is a big cat and we think he will pull through.

"I don't know how anyone could do such a cruel thing. If anyone saw him being shot or saw anyone with an air rifle in the area I would ask that they contact the police."

Published Thursday, February 21, 2002