An Auckland woman is hoping for a law change after she says her pet cat was shot with a crossbow.
Glen Eden woman Jo Eden told Newshub her tonkinese cat was let out of the house at about 7am on Tuesday. At about 8:30am, she heard a "terrible noise" by the cat door.
Eden said she rushed outside to find her cat Bosley under her van cowering and howling in "absolute agony" with a "protrusion" coming out of his back.
"The feather end of the arrow was [all that was] left remaining outside of his back," she said.
Bosley was then immediately rushed to the vet where he was sedated for X-rays. The vet found that the arrow hadn't touched his spine or entered his abdominal cavity, so he was put under anaesthetic and the arrow was removed.
"The vet said that he was pretty lucky because it was pretty close to his spine. He had a pretty lucky escape," Eden said.
Bosley is now resting at home but "he's not a happy cat at the moment".
"It's concerning that somebody's out there shooting cats with a crossbow," Eden said.
"Somebody's sick enough to shoot at a poor defenceless cat that was minding his own business. Who might be next? Is it going to be pointed at another person?"
Eden believes New Zealand's laws are "very lax" when it comes to animal cruelty and they "need to change".
"If the person gets caught, I'd like the law to come down on them hard to teach them a lesson, and to teach others as well."
Constable Robert Manson of New Lynn Police said they are investigating the matter, and asks anyone who has information to contact him on 105. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
