RSPCA condemns airgun shootings of pigeons in Darlington

And the charity is continuing to call for stricter airgun regulations following several suspected shootings of birds in the town.

A resident in Tees Drive contacted the charity on June 13 after finding one of the birds in her garden which was bleeding from the chest and struggling to walk.  

An x-ray subsequently revealed the pigeon had been shot through the neck with an airgun and the pellet had become lodged in the animal’s chest. It  had to be put to sleep to prevent further suffering.

Other pigeons were reportedly found dead in the same street throughout the month.

RSPCA inspector Krissy Raine said airgun attacks are not uncommon.

She said: “The person who contacted us said she heard a shot and then discovered the injured bird in her garden. Other pigeons have also reportedly been found dead at nearby properties. 

“These weapons cause awful suffering to animals and it’s appalling that people take pleasure in using birds as target practice.

"It’s also worrying that someone appears to be indiscriminately taking pot shots in a residential area where there are likely to be children and family pets."

She added: “Sadly, the targeting of wild and domestic animals in this way isn’t uncommon. We see incidents throughout the year involving cats, geese, swans and gulls which have been horribly maimed or killed outright in airgun attacks.

“The cases we hear about are only likely to show part of the problem as not all of them will be reported directly to us, and there may be situations where animals injured and killed by airguns are sadly never found - especially in the case of wildlife.” 

The RSPCA tends to see an increase in such attacks during the summer months when people are spending more time outside.

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Strict regulations around owning airguns, as well as basic safety training and thorough explanations of the law, could help prevent such attacks in the future, the charity said.

The RSPCA has also created a video to help people understand the best way to help animals in need, and advice on what to do if someone finds an injured wild animal is available on their website.

Anyone with information about the Darlington incidents is urged to contact the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018.