£500 Reward For Info Over Cat Killing

A Rowlands Castle based charity has offered a reward of £500 for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible for the mutilation and killing of a cat in Portsmouth.

The Chichester and District Dog Rescue Society offered the reward after hearing about the incident on the Hampshire Constabulary Facebook page and in the Portsmouth News.

The cat, named Smudge, was last seen alive by her owner at home on Beresford Road, Portsmouth, at around 8pm on Monday, November 21. Smudge's body was found at around 10.30am the following morning (Tuesday, November 22) on Beresford Road by a member of the public, who spoke to residents and identified the owner.

John Hodgson, Chairman of Trustees, said:

"The Society has been operating in South Hampshire and West Sussex for nearly 50 years, and we have noticed an unacceptable increase in animal cruelty cases over the last few years. We are supposed to be a nation of animal lovers and this case and others like it show that some people are not all worthy of that tag.

"We want the person or people responsible to be caught. Please give the police the help they need to catch those responsible. A quiet word with Crimestoppers, anonymously; or with the police, may be all that is needed.

"We are here to support people and animals alike and can be contacted through our Facebook page, on email at info@cddrs.org.uk or on 02392 412454. If anyone has problems, our trained animal ambulance crews are able to help in most cases. If you want to get involved in the charity and help us, please get in touch.

PC Simon Buckle, said:

"This was a particularly distressing incident where a much loved family pet was deliberately mutilated and killed.

"We have already received a lot of help from the community, who are clearly disgusted by what has happened. However, we still believe there is someone out there who knows who did this and we are hopeful that this reward might encourage them to come forward and tell us what they know."

Anyone with information should contact Fratton Police Station on 101 or the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111. Minicom users should contact 01962 875000.