Lucky the cat hit with 25 pellets in Derry gun attack
Nellie McGinley says her cat Lucky has been horribly injured and may not survive.
The pet, who has undergone surgery at a local veterinary clinic, has suffered brain damage and been blinded in one eye.
The extent of its scarring is self evident – its body is peppered with pellet with much of the lead still in its system.
Vets fear it could poison Lucky, or it could move internally and damage major organs.
Ms McGinley told UTV that she found the pet near her house in Tullymore Road on Thursday, struggling to crawl home after being shot by an unknown assailant.
“I heard her just moaning and no more,” she told UTV.
“She was walking on her knuckles because she couldn’t put her paws down so I picked her up and brought her into the house.
“I can’t believe someone could do that to an animal.”
Lucky had recently been run over by a car and Ms McGinley nursed the cat back to health.
“They’ve told me it’ll be three weeks before they know whether she’ll live or die,” she added.
“Why would anybody do this? The wee children on the street come over and pet her, now this has happened.”
The cat who battled to survive before now faces another fight to live.
Police have branded the attack as “despicable” and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward so the perpetrator can be caught.
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