OFFICERS are probing a series of sick pet attacks that have caused misery for cat lovers across the area.

One of the latest, the shooting of Barney – a rare pedigree cat – almost left him crippled for life.

Now police are eager to hear from anyone with information on this attack, which left Barney with a high-powered air weapon pellet lodged in his spine.

Dorset Police have not ruled out a link between this shooting and the recent spate of animal attacks, insisting they are keeping “an open mind” about the incident.

They also believe there could be other pets that have been targeted whose owners have not yet come forward.

PC Simon Bridge said: “I am appealing for anyone who has information about this incident to contact me as soon as possible.

“I would also like to hear from anyone who may have suffered from a similar offence and who is yet to contact Dorset Police.”

Barney’s injury was discovered after his owners took him to the vet on June 8, six weeks after he disappeared from their home in Dalkeith Road, Branksome Park, Poole.

Owner Sandra Taylor told the Daily Echo: “I couldn’t believe he’d been shot. You hear about this happening to other people’s cats, but it is still quite hard to take.

“It has been very distressing.”

Barney has since made a full recovery, but the Taylors have been left with a £300 vet bill.

In May two other cats escaped death after they were subjected to nasty catapult attacks.

Black cat Ozzy, from Melbury Avenue, Poole, had to have his eye removed by vets after being shot in the face with a ball-bearing.

Meanwhile, Jasper the kitten, from Colehill, also had to have an eye removed after being shot with a catapult.