A Cat Was Shot 50 Times, But Still Survive

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A pet cat has survived being shot 50 times by yobs in an attack which left her "covered in blood".

Two-year-old Rosie's body was littered with pellets, fired from a suspected air rifle, after the cruel attack in Guisborough, Cleveland.

Vets could only manage to remove 20 pellets for fear of injuring the poor animal further.

It means Rosie, who is recovering after emergency surgery, will have to live the rest of her life with 30 pellets inside her.

Her outraged owner Tracy Homan said she believed the cat had been pinned down, or tied up, before a gun was used to fire the pellets repeatedly into her body.

Ms Homan said she was "furious" at the "absolutely horrendous" brutality.

"I just can't believe somebody could be so cruel to an animal," she added.

Cleveland police are now investigating the attack.

But Ms Homan fears she may "never know what actually happened".

The vet initially thought Rosie had been victim of an animal attack.

But closer inspection revealed the wounds had been caused by pellets.

Rosie underwent surgery at Wilton House Veterinary Clinic in Guisborough after her ordeal last Thursday.

Vet Clare Turner said "she's been very lucky".

"I've only been qualified for a year," she added. "But this is the first time I've dealt with a cat that has been shot. Fifty pellets in a cat is a lot."

Ms Homan said her three children, aged seven to 12, were "absolutely horrified".

"They just can't believe it. When I think about what's happened it brings tears to my eyes.

"If it had been done by a cat or a dog I could have got over it, but I just can't believe a person could do that - especially in this area."

It is not the first time the family's pets have been targeted.

Three years ago, thugs broke into Ms Hogan's former home and killed her rabbit.