Children and adults accused of targeting animals with air rifles in disturbing KZN trend.
Dogs whimpering in pain, birds unable to fly and stray cats left with devastating injuries are becoming an increasingly familiar sight for Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) officers, who said they are responding to a worrying rise in cases of animal cruelty across Durban and surrounding parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
"Reaction officers have responded to numerous incidents in which pellet guns, air rifles, paintball markers and gas-powered airguns have allegedly been used by both adults and children to kill or seriously injure animals across Durban and surrounding areas of KwaZulu-Natal," the organisation said.
Dogs, stray cats, wild birds, snakes and monkeys have all fallen victim to the attacks.
While officers have managed to rescue several injured animals, many have suffered such extensive wounds that the only humane option was euthanasia.
