It’s every dog owner’s nightmare’: Animal lover reveals how her family’s Jack Russell named Merlin was shot in the face with air rifle by teenage thugs
- WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
An animal lover has spoken of the horrific moment her family’s Jack Russell was shot in the face by teenage thugs, saying ‘it’s every dog owner’s nightmare’.
Merlin, seven, was shot with an air rifle following a row with two boys in a park in Sevenoaks, Kent, on Monday evening.
Lisa Ongley, 61, said her cousin – who owns Merlin – was walking him when he saw the boys, aged 14 or 15, brandishing the weapon and asked them to stop.
They swore at him and as he turned to walk away he heard Merlin yelp and saw blood pouring from his face.
Ms Ongley and her cousin, who doesn’t wish to be named, rushed Merlin to the emergency vets who cleaned his wounds.
The next day he had an X-ray and surgery to try and remove the pellet but this was unsuccessful because it had shattered inside his skull, leaving lead fragments lodged in his head.
An animal lover has spoken of the horrific moment her family’s Jack Russell was shot in the face by teenage thugs, saying ‘it’s every dog owner’s nightmare’. Merlin, seven, was shot with an air rifle following a row with two boys in a park in Sevenoaks, Kent, on Monday evening
Ms Onlgey said: ‘My cousin spoke to them, they told him to f*** off and seconds later he suddenly heard the dog yelp and fly up in the air, he just scooped up the dog and ran back to the car and called me.
‘Merlin was clearly in pain and whimpering on the way to the vet.
‘It has really affected both Merlin and my cousin. In the last three years a lot has gone on in his life and I think this is the final straw.
‘It’s altered his demeanour and his relationship with people, if he never saw another person again he wouldn’t be that bothered.
‘Merlin’s just a typical tenacious Jack Russell, he’s as friendly as you like, there is no way he would intimidate anybody.
‘It’s awful, as a family we’re devastated it happened to any dogs, let alone one you know. It’s every dog owner’s nightmare.’
Merlin’s vet treatment has already cost more than £1,000. Ms Ongley contacted the police who said they are investigating.
The dog had surgery to try to remove the pellet but it had shattered inside his skull. Above: The horrific wound on the dog’s face
She said she wouldn’t like to see the thugs jailed over it but shared the pictures in the hope they realise what they did.
She said:’I don’t think the boys meant to kill him, I think they were just smartarse little kids who thought they were being funny.
‘Hopefully they realise what they’ve done and they’re probably now panicking.
‘Nobody wants to see young boys locked up for doing something stupid but I would like them to see the consequences.’
Although air rifles can be owned by over 18s it is illegal for children to own them, or for them to be carried in a public place.
People aged 14-17 can only use them on private property with permission.
Lisa Ongley (above), 61, said her cousin – who owns Merlin – was walking him when he saw the boys, aged 14 or 15, brandishing the weapon and asked them to stop
It is also a criminal offence for an airgun owner to fail to take ‘reasonable precautions’ to prevent someone under the age of 18 gaining access to it.
A Kent Police spokesperson said: ‘Kent Police is investigating a report that a dog was injured with a pellet from an air weapon whilst it was being walked in Knole Park, Sevenoaks.
‘The incident happened at around 8pm on Monday 29 May 2023, and officers are making enquiries into the circumstances.
‘Anyone with information should call Kent Police on 01622 604100, quoting reference 29-1422.’
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