A CAT is fighting for her life after being shot twice by an air gun in Bexleyheath.

Dolly the black and white moggy limped home to owner Patricia Cook’s bungalow in Downbank Avenue on Saturday evening (June 1) in serious distress.

Mrs Cook’s daughter Nicola, 35, noticed a pair of bullet holes around Dolly’s side and back leg and rushed her to the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals in Thamesmead for emergency surgery on Sunday morning (June 2).

Two half-centimetre pellets with sharp points were removed after one had ripped through Dolly’s bowel and lower abdomen, causing the four-and-a-half year old immense pain.

Dolly remains in a critical condition at Petcare vets in Northumberland Heath after more surgery was needed on Monday (June 3) – adding to a bill which could top £3,000.

Mrs Cook, 66, says she has been left "utterly disgusted" at the attack on her pet, thought to have happened in the Castleton Avenue area.

The widow told News Shopper: "My reaction was absolute shock horror.

"It’s decent round here and whoever did this obviously hasn’t got any feelings of any kind.

"I haven’t got words to describe how they could do it to a defenceless animal. You just don’t do things like that and Dolly is critically ill."

News Shopper:

The pair of pellets which have left Dolly fighting for her life.  

The grandmother-of-two’s daughter Nicola says she is "bloody angry".

The civil servant said: "Every time I see Dolly I keep crying and the vets absolutely love her.

"They said she is the most sweet natured pet they have ever worked with and is so docile. They have never known a cat like her.

"You wouldn’t think in this area that anyone would be so evil. They are playing around thinking they are hard with their friends but there is a lot more to it."

A Bexley police spokesman confirmed officers responded to a call at 6.43pm on Sunday about an animal which had allegedly been shot.

He said: "On Monday officers attended a Bexleyheath address and took a statement from the owner of a cat that had been injured.

"Officers then carried out an investigation at another local address and an intelligence report has been filed.

"If you have information about anyone using any type of weapon to injure or kill animals you are asked to contact police on 101."

Christchurch Safer Neighbourhood Team’s Sergeant Stephen Bateman added: "We will not tolerate cruelty to animals.

"We will deal sternly, with the aim of prosecuting, anyone who targets wild or domestic animals."

An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "This sounds like a callous and senseless attack on a defenseless animal.

"This poor cat is likely to have suffered greatly.

"It is an offence under the law to cause suffering to an animal and we take complaints of this kind very seriously."

"Anyone with any information should call the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018."