DANA BAY NEWS - A beloved five-year-old cat named Ash, from Dana Bay, had to be euthanised after she was shot, reportedly with an air rifle.
The cat's owner, who asked not to be named, said the incident occurred on 8 May, while she was at work.
KwaNonqaba Police Station spokesperson, Warrant Officer Kappie Kapp, confirmed the shooting had taken place and said a case had been opened and was being investigated.
Devastated
The owner said she had been devastated by the incident, adding that what made the shooting even more shocking and unexpected was that no one had sent her messages to complain that Ash had been a bother in the neighbourhood before the shooting.
She said she had three cats, including Ash, and all loved to explore.
The owner said she had received a WhatsApp message from her local neighbourhood group on 8 May that a black cat was found in someone's yard in Lanata Street, Dana Bay.
Another nearby resident, who also has a black cat, thought it was her pet at first and rushed to the yard to take Ash to a nearby veterinarian. Once at the vet, the neighbour realised it was not her cat, but Ash, and told the owner.
Vet
Following a consultation with the vet and an X-ray, it was determined that Ash had been shot and had extensive internal bleeding. The difficult decision was then made to euthanise her.
"I just don't know why anyone would have shot her. If she was bothering you, you could have just sent me a message to let me know," said the owner.
"She was active, she liked to explore and she was extremely lovable. She was found in the yard of the people who live behind me so that means she was trying to make her way back home before she collapsed," said the owner.
Dana Bay Conservancy chairperson, Erika van der Westhuizen, said the shooting of Ash was not the first, or even third shooting of an animal within the conservancy this year so far.
A board near the entrance to Dana Bay, warning people that shooting is prohibited.
Doves
Another Dana Bay resident, Michael du Plessis, said that from January to about March this year, someone had shot rock doves on his property. He had found about 18 dead doves in his yard during that period.
"I just don't understand this mentality," said Du Plessis of the killing of the doves.
He said he had confronted a person whom he suspected was responsible for the shooting and although they did not admit to it, there had been no more dead doves in more than a month.
Van der Westhuizen said: "We, as an urban conservancy, are concerned for the well-being of our wildlife, residents and their domestic animals. We understand the challenges faced in co-existing with nature, but shooting of any kind is unacceptable and won't be tolerated. Let's treat everything and everyone around us with respect."
Shooting prohibited
She said a board had been erected at the entrance to Dana Bay, warning people that shooting was prohibited. Van der Westhuizen said the conservancy is trying to get approval to put up more boards in Dana Bay.
According to the Mossel Bay Municipality's by-laws, Section 11 (2) relating to streets and section five relating to public nuisances, it is prohibited to discharge any firearm, airgun or air pistol in any street, public or private place except in the circumstances as set out in the by-laws.
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