The SPCA is calling out for any information that could help them find the person responsible for a shocking attack on a domestic cat in Christchurch.
The cat was found by the side of the road with over a dozen large nails lodged in its head.
“Definitely since I’ve started this has probably been the worst case that I’ve been involved in. I know there's other cases that have been as horrific but this one has definitely hit home,” says SPCA inspector Christoff Heyns.
This could be one of the worst cases of animal cruelty New Zealand has ever seen. The sickening attack on a female adult tabby cat shows 14 85mm nails lodged in her head.
The cat was found dumped by the side of the road in Hoon Hay, suburban Christchurch, by a woman walking past. She was so traumatised by what she saw she had to ask somebody else to call the SPCA to let them know it was there.
“The x-rays were horrible. It's one of those cases which stuns everybody in the centre. I mean the x-ray is totally dominated by metal, nobody can believe it,” says Mr Heyns.
The nails entered the muzzle, top and back of the head areas, from all different angles. Frighteningly the SPCA vets know the cat would have been alive when the attack began.
So far the centre knows nothing, other than the street it was found on. It wants to know who owned the short haired domestic cat, as well as who is responsible.
“We don't know who the cat belongs to, who was involved in this and that's why we're asking members of the public to please give us a call if they know anything at all about this case,” says Mr Heyns.
Many cats either feral or abused are dropped into the SPCA, but most are rehabilitated and re-homed within months.
They see some severe abuse, but this one has been especially astonishing.
Heyns says the SPCA is desperate for information to prosecute.
“The hard part is going to be actually finding the nail gun that did this... it's going to be crucial evidence”.
The SPCA releases a list of shame every year with the worst cases of animal cruelty in the country.
This tabby will be number 52 on the list.