A LEADING animal charity has called for tighter air gun controls following the death of a family pet in Corfe Castle.

Five-year-old Indy, a Bengal cat, died of his injuries four days after being shot with an air weapon.

Despite emergency treatment, the beloved family pet - which had been shot on a previous occasion by air gun thugs - died after the pellet ruptured his bowel.

RSPCA Inspector Graham Hammond said: "This is such an upsetting case and poor Indie would have been in a lot of pain from this horrific injury.

"Sadly it is not the first time he had been shot with an air gun either."

Indie returned home with the air gun injury around 4pm on September 1. He'd been let out by his owner just an hour earlier.

Anyone with information on the shooting is being urged to contact the RSPCA Inspectorate Appeal Line in confidence.

Mr Hammond said: "We are calling for tighter controls with better education and explanation of the law when buying an air gun, and that everyone must receive basic safety training before being allowed to walk out of the shop."

Anyone caught deliberately using an air weapon to injure an animal could be sentenced to six months in prison and/or fined £20,000 if found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act.

Mr Hammond said: "It is very distressing to think that people take pleasure in causing such horrific injuries to defenceless animals.

"These are deliberate acts of cruelty and we would appeal to people’s consciences not to commit these offences.

"Unfortunately, air rifle attacks are not as rare as we would like. The injuries caused by such attacks are horrific and often fatal. 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."

The RSPCA, which suspects some attacks are being carried out to deter cats from private gardens, says there are humane ways to achieve this, including installing fences and planting prickly plants around borders.

The RSPCA Inspectorate Appeal Line is 0300 123 8018.