A cat killer appears to be on the loose in Russell, prompting locals to offer a reward of more than $1000 for information leading to the culprit's arrest.
The money was put up after Tigger, a tabby belonging to Russell residents Peter and Lorraine Blignaut, was shot with an air gun.
The pellet entered Tigger's ear, passed around the front of his skull and lodged under the skin on the other side of his head. The family pet of nine years had surgery to remove the pellet this week and was sent home from the vet's clinic yesterday.
Mrs Blignaut thought Tigger had been in a fight when he came home last week with a wound by his right ear and a lump on the left side of his head. Their vet, however, realised the cat had been shot.
The Blignauts, who migrated with Tigger from South Africa six years ago, complained to Russell police and put up a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Mr Blignaut said they had left South Africa to get away from crime, "and now Tigger is a victim of crime".