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Organisers of a Canterbury hunting competition have acknowledged public concerns around a new feral cat category, where young teens are encouraged to shoot as many feral cats as possible.
Among concerns are the SPCA, which has spoken out in “extreme concern” about the competition encouraging children to hunt cats.
Asreported by Stuff, the North Canterbury Hunting Competition is an annual fundraiser for Rotherham School and pool, yesterday the tournament announced a new junior section.
According to the section, hunters aged 14 or younger have until late June to kill as many feral cats as they can - whoever kills the most wins $250.
It’s a fundraiser with a good cause but has left residents with concerns over the teens’ abilities to discern feral cats from domestic ones.
According to the section, hunters aged 14 or younger have until late June to kill as many feral cats as they can. Photo / Christine McKay
In a statement, the SPCA condemned the hunting competition’s category, claiming impossibility for children to tell the difference between a feral, stray or “a frightened domestic cat.
“Organisers have stated that cats will be scanned for the presence of a microchip to identify pet cats, however, this will be done after the animal has been shot and killed,” the statement said.
The SPCA pointed out that in hunting events such as the North Canterbury one, air rifles are typically used, which increases the likelihood of pain and suffering in the prolonged death of animals.
