FURIOUS animal lovers yesterday condemned the shooting of a pet cat.

Six-year-old tabby Sadie died after being shot at point-blank range in an attack which has disgusted RSPCA officials.

Brian Dutton heard the cat, which belonged to his partner Kim Stevens, wailing at their home in Derwent Street, Darlington, on Wednesday night.

When he checked Sadie, he discovered blood coming from her side and rushed her to the veterinary practice on the town's Stanhope Road.

Despite a lengthy operation, the silver and grey cat died in the early hours of yesterday - and a search is now on for its attackers.

"The vet said that whoever has done it has shot the cat at close range - it is just a despicable act," said Mr Dutton.

"We have another cat and you just don't feel like letting her out any more if there is somebody out there who has one of these guns and is taking pot-shots at cats.

"She was such a homely cat and was probably just sitting on the wall, as she always did."

Both the RSPCA and the police have been informed of the incident and are investigating.

Local RSPCA inspector Garry Palmer condemned the incident as "malicious and barbaric".

He said: "We are appealing for anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward because this is just cruelty of the first order.

"We are having a drive at the moment where we are asking vets who get a shooting incident to report it to us, because things like this are just criminal."

l The Northern Echo's award-winning Animal Watch campaign was launched two years ago, with the support of the RSPCA, to highlight the region's abysmal record on animal cruelty.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the RSPCA on (08705) 555999.

Read more about the Animal Watch campaign here.