A PET owner from Swain House has revealed the moment her cat limped into the house after being shot by an air rifle.

Leanne Isaacs was shocked to see three-year-old Coco arrive home in agony and "wet through" with a pellet lodged into her leg.

Single mum Leanne cleaned Coco up and placed her somewhere safe before taking her to Bradford's PDSA Pet Hospital the next morning.

Vets found Coco had a fractured leg with the X-ray results showing exactly where the pellet had been fired.

The animal experts left Leanne with just three choices - all at an emotional and economical cost.

Leanne, who cut off her pet insurance after rejigging her finances, said: "The first option was surgery. It could end up having more complications.

"The second option was to have a leg amputated which would cost £300-500.

"The third was to put to sleep.

"I don't understand what goes through anyone's mind to hurt anyone, never mind if it's a human or animal.

"I'm so mad someone's actually targeted her.

"Why are people even doing that? It could be a child, that's the scary thing."

After paying up for the initial appointments, Leanne told the PDSA she had no option but to put her eight-year-old daughter's cat down.

Leanne, who described feeling "heart broken and devastated", said: "At this time everything was just up in the air.

"She (Coco) was just five week's old when we found her.

"She (the vet) phoned me back and she was like 'If you can show us evidence that you've applied for housing benefit then we'll give you a month's leeway on the treatment'.

"At the time I wasn't sure I could get it with me working part time.

"They said 'We've got the proof and we'll give you a month's cover."

Coco had surgery which meant she could keep her leg.

Now the pet owner is warning other BD2 residents and appealing for people to make sure they report crimes against animals.

She said: "They've got away with it because there were no witnesses.

"Are they going to do it again? Are they going to target someone else's animal? She's (Coco) very lucky that it hadn't killed her.

"Are they going to do it to kids as a joke?"

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police is reassuring locals that this seems to be an isolated incident.

They said: "This is suspected to have occurred in the BD2 area sometime between September 30 and October 2. It was reported to police on October 3 and due to there being no immediate lines of enquiry was filed pending further information.

"Any incident where a weapon is alleged to have been deliberately fired at an animal is a concern and we would like to reassure pet owners in the BD2 area that this appears to be an isolated incident.

"Information which may assist this investigation can be reported by calling 101, or using the contact options on the West Yorkshire Police website. The crime reference is 13190508386. Information can also be reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers."

What did the RSPCA say?

A spokesperson for animal charity RSPCA said: "Every year the RSPCA receives almost 1,000 calls to investigate cases and help hundreds of animals that are the defenseless victims of air gun attacks. 

"It is very distressing to think that people take pleasure in causing such horrific injuries to defenceless animals. These are deliberate and brutal acts of cruelty.

"Cats and wildlife are normally the animals that are more susceptible to these incidents simply because they are out in the open with no one to protect them. Unfortunately, air rifle attacks are not as rare as we would like. The injuries caused by such attacks are horrific and often fatal.  

"We are calling for tighter controls on air weapons. This, along with better education and explanation of the law when buying an air gun, and requirements that everyone must receive basic safety training before being allowed to walk out of the shop could help relieve the problem.

"These weapons cause horrific pain and suffering and it is illegal. Anyone caught deliberately using an air gun to injure an animal can be up to six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine if found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act."