One of Britain's largest animal charities is backing a campaign to get air weapons off Tamworth's streets. The RSPCA has thrown its support behind Staffordshire Police's No Butts - Hand Them In campaign, which aims to reduce injuries and anti-social behaviour through the misuse of both air weapons and BB guns. Martyn Hubbard, regional RSPCA superintendent, said there were serious consequences to people taking pot-shots at pets and wildlife. He said: "Many birds and wild animals can suffer long-lingering deaths after being shot. It beggars belief that people don't care what harm they do or what suffering they cause to animals and birds. Unfortunately there are hundreds of case studies of animals who have been subjected to people shooting at them. One of them, a three-year-old cat, returned home in pain with blood coming from his side. A pellet had cracked a rib and lodged in his chest. This cat was fortunate as the pellet only just missed its heart. But many don't survive. An x-ray showed sever-al air gun pellets in another cat's body, which paralysed it and, unfortunately, it had to be put to sleep. "A swan that had been shot had a pellet lodged in its spinal column and one in its neck, and died three weeks later." Anyone caught causing unnecessary suffering to an animal could face up to six-months jail and/or a fine of up to £20,000. Chief Inspector Phil Fortun, Staffordshire Police's air weapons campaign co-ordinator, said: "We are thankful that the RSPCA is backing our campaign and hope that more people realise the damage that these weapons can do, both to humans and animals as well as the nuisance caused to communities from people misusing these weapons." | 
