CRUEL INTENTIONS

Animal lovers call on parents to stop kids from shooting wildlife

- MARSHA DEAN

ANIMAL welfare organisations are calling on parents and caregivers to educate their children about animal cruelty as children are targeting birds and vulnerable animals with pellet guns, ketties and stones.

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA said they receive a disturbing number of reports of child cruelty to animals and are currently involved in a study, the objectives of which would be to inform a program for early intervention.

In a statement, the SPCA says: "Shooting birds with pellet guns, slingshots (or "ketties"), or stones can result in severe injuries, broken wings, internal bleeding, eye trauma, or slow, painful deaths.

Many of the birds targeted are indigenous species that play vital roles in the ecosystem.