A horrified woman has spoken out about her ongoing ordeal after her two-year-old cat Jinx was left seriously injured by shotgun bearings. Megan Snape now faces the possibility of forking out thousands for further follow up treatments after her current pet insurance will no longer cover the rest
Little Jinx, who is two-years-old this month, had been venturing out in nearby fields at Megan's house, beside Dovestone Reservoir, on Thursday (July 21) when he returned home with a bad limp. The following morning, shocked vets told her that he had numerous ball bearings stuck in three of his legs after a shotgun had been fired.
Jinx immediately underwent surgery, which saw Megan drive to Sheffield, with the little cat now needing to remain in a crate with metal pins in his legs.
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Megan said: "I have got two cats and have lived up near Dovestone Reservoir for about a year. Jinx tends to go out in the garden and ventures into the fields, but he doesn't go very far. You always presume they are safe as there are so many people here with cats and dogs, and farmers with chickens.
"Last Thursday night I noticed it was late and he hadn't come home, which was unusual for him as he has a set pattern. I went to go and shout him and my other cat meowed and I saw Jinx on the window ledge, but he looked like he couldn't jump over the window like normal.
"He managed to jump up and fell into the house, and then was limping really badly up the stairs. I took him to the vets the next morning because I was really worried about him, and the vet came out and said 'I don't know how to tell you this, but he has been shot'.
"I just couldn't believe it. I couldn't take it in, you don't expect to hear your pet has been shot. It is awful but he is a fighter."
Little Jinx sustained 'horrendous' injuries to his back left leg, right leg, front paw and had numerous shotgun bearings removed from all three of them on Friday (July 22). A further operation was needed to remove the fourth pellet and part of his front paw amputated. Depending on his recovery, he may even lose his back left leg altogether.
Police visited Megan about the incident and confirmed that the little ball bearings were from a shotgun. She added she is unsure whether the incident was intentional, and that people may have been practising shooting nearby. Jinx has to live with huge metal pins through his shattered back leg until he goes back for an x-ray follow up.
Megan's pet insurance covers her two cats, Jinx and Puddin, for up to £4,000 per year for each animal. But, Jinx's various vet trips and surgery have topped that figure, with more expected over the coming weeks and months as he recovers.
Megan added: "We have to keep him contained in a crate until he is safe to be out on his own but he doesn’t understand what is happening. When he tries to stand up he just falls over.
"We are exhausted and heartbroken, but he is such a brave, strong willed, loving little soul and he is 100 per cent worth it.
"Jinx needs further check ups, medication, dressing changes, an x-ray in six weeks time to check if leg is healing and does not need amputating and then finally a further operation to remove the pins.
"I’m beside myself with worry as I’ve no idea how I will cover this. I had no idea the insurance would be used in under a week, and I’m still in shock that this could happen so close to home."
Megan is now fundraising for the money to help cover the costs of Jinx's further treatment. Greater Manchester Police have been approached for comment. It has not been confirmed whether the incident was deliberate.
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