A DEVASTATED couple were forced to have their cat put down after it was seriously injured in a suspected airgun shooting.

Andy Birdsall and Diane Verity took adorable kitten Phoebe in last October after she was dumped in a lay-by.

The couple, who live on Station Road, Queensbury, and run a tack shop at the nearby Queensland Farm, began to worry when Phoebe didn’t return home on Tuesday night.

They searched for her and became even more concerned when she didn't appear the following morning.

Phoebe eventually surfaced at the farm’s riding school, but was dragging her back legs, leading the couple to fear she had been run over.

They immediately took her to the vets, but received the sad news that it looked as though Phoebe had been shot and would have to be put to sleep because her injuries were so severe.

“We are devastated,” Mr Birdsall said. “She was a lovely cat. It’s just not acceptable.

“I don’t know why anybody would want to do it - it’s ridiculous.”

A heartbroken Miss Verity added: “It’s just upsetting someone has done that to an innocent creature.

“It’s awful. They shouldn’t have that sort of weapon. I want them to be caught and have some remorse about what they have done.”

She said she had heard the sound of an air pistol at around 7.30pm on Tuesday, but didn’t think anything of it, and a couple of weeks earlier had spotted youths on Station Road who looked as if they were hiding something.

The pair also keep Shetland ponies and four sheep, leading them to fear they could be shot in the same way.

They are now offering a £100 reward for any information which leads to a prosecution and will hold a raffle for Cats Protection in memory of Phoebe.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: "The RSPCA was contacted on Wednesday, August 30, by a cat owner whose pet had to be put to sleep after being allegedly shot with an airgun in Station Road, Queensbury.

"An officer was assigned to look into the incident but the cat's body has since been buried."

The spokesperson said the charity would like to see stricter regulations around owning an airgun, plus better education and explanation of the law for anyone buying one.

Anyone caught deliberately using an airgun to injure an animal can face up to six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine if found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act.

Anyone with any information on the Queensbury incident is urged to contact the charity's appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

A police spokesperson said: "Police were called at 10.33am on Wednesday after caller heard what they believed to be an air weapon being fired in the Station Road area of Queensbury.

"This was after the caller had been told an injury to their cat had possibly been caused by an air weapon.

"The caller has been spoken to and a crime of criminal damage has been recorded."