A FAMILY was left 'heartbroken' after their beloved cat died from being shot in the head in a slingshot attack in Canford Heath. 

Tanya Cross and her family are in mourning following the death of their much loved cat after he was struck in the head by an 'object' flung from a catapult on Canford Heath Road in Poole on Wednesday, October 19.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Tanya said she was "in shock" when her neighbour called to inform her that Hunter, her cat, had been shot in the head and was now in a "critical" condition.

Tanya has held off telling her five children about Hunter's death as she can't "bring herself to do it."

Tanya said: "I received a call from my neighbour to tell me Hunter had been injured and my initial thought was that he was hit by a car.

"My neighbour then told me that he had spoken to the kids in the park and they told me that he was hit in the head with a slingshot. 

READ MORE: Cats being shaved in Poole as residents suspect criminal act

"I drove straight down and found him laying dead on the floor but I still took him to the emergency vet but there was nothing they can do.

"The vet said it was a small blunt instrument used to hit Hunter.

Bournemouth Echo:

"I was in complete shock throughout all of this, I couldn't make sense of the fact that someone had deliberately tried to hurt my cat.

"I don't even know what to tell my kids, that's the worst thing. I didn't tell them after it happened because I couldn't bring myself to do it. 

"It literally happened about 10 steps from my front door."

Hunter was born in April 2021 and was "really well-liked" by the Canford Heath community. 

Tanya added: "Hunter was always on the spotted Canford Heath page, there was always pictures of him playing with random kids. 

"He was such an affectionate cat. He was really trusting and playful, he was quite a big character."

READ MORE: Family cat 'punched to death' in Ringwood Road, Poole

Sian Shire-Jones, 20, was passing by Canford Heath Road just after the time of the incident and came across Hunter lying there with a "faint pulse" and sat with him until Tanya arrived. 

Sian said: "It was horrendous, the cat was just lying there helpless, his back legs were moving and he was pouring blood out of his nose. 

"There was a faint pulse when we turned up but not long afterwards he did sadly pass away while we were there."

The offender is said to have fled the scene on a bicycle after the attack.

A spokesperson from Dorset Police said: "Dorset Police received a report at 7.20pm on Wednesday October 19 2022 relating to a cat being struck by an object from a catapult in the area of Canford Heath Road in Poole.

"It was reported that the offender had left the scene on a bicycle and the cat had sadly died as a result of the incident.

"Officers are carrying out enquiries into this incident. No arrests have been made at this time.

"Officers from the Poole Neighbourhood Policing Team carry out regular patrols, including foot patrols, in this area.

"Anyone with information can contact Dorset Police via www.dorset.police.uk/contact or by calling 101, quoting occurrence 55220170583."