2023-10-07 04:00:00
A month ago, Séverine’s cat died. The little feline was shot in the body while walking behind his house in Gosselies. According to the veterinarian, the lesions were irreversible. Who shot? Why and how? Local police have opened an investigation. In the meantime, Séverine lives in anguish.
For several weeks, Séverine has been overcome by a feeling combining fear and anger. ““An individual had fun shooting lead bullets at our cats and mine died.” confides with pain this resident of Gosselies, in Hainaut, via the orange Alert us button. “Lolita was only two years old. We are in shock,” shares this 36-year-old mother.
“She wasn’t moving.”
The facts date back to the end of summer. Séverine then has two cats: Fifi and her daughter Lolita. The little felines are used to walking outside the house, through the garden. “On August 23, early in the afternoon, a neighbor warned my husband that Lolita was in his garden and that she was not moving,” remembers the thirty-year-old.
Once her work as a housekeeper is finished, Séverine goes directly to his house. “I found our cat on the floor. She had an injury on her hind leg and was no longer able to stand up.”
The couple decides to go urgently to the Pont-à-Celles veterinary clinic, where a veterinarian quickly takes care of them to examine this paralysis of the hind legs. “He shaved her paw where a wound was visible. We didn’t immediately notice that it was a bullet hole. But the vet told me that Lolita was in a strange state, that she was losing blood from the bladder. He therefore asked to take several x-rays and that’s when we saw the bullet lodged in his body”, relates Séverine.
A pellet went through the cat’s chest
According to the veterinarian’s report, a lead passed through the cat’s thorax from right to left and severed the animal’s spinal cord. Damages, according to him, irreversible. “We had no choice but to euthanize him. Lolita really looked at me with unhappy eyes and I tried to reassure her as much as possible,” explains the still emotional thirty-year-old.
According to Séverine, it was during this consultation that she learned that her other cat had also been the victim of a pellet gun shot. It was July 11. “Fifi had a hole in one paw, but we didn’t notice it was a bullet. We just disinfected the wound and removed the piece of lead with pliers. We didn’t consult a vet this time- there”, says the thirty-year-old. According to her, it was Lolita’s veterinarian who revealed to her that it was a lead bullet from “same diameter as the one that hit his daughter.” “Fortunately, the bullet did not enter her body, but there are still fragments. We also feel two small balls near her ribs. She is very lucky to escape,” emphasizes Séverine.
Several people told me that this also happened to their cat.
Still marked by Lolita’s death, she posts a message on social networks to explain the situation and warn the residents of her neighborhood. “I received many messages. Several people told me that it had also happened to their cat. One neighbor sent me photos of her cat with a hole in its nose. Obviously, this happened. produced last year”assures Séverine.
The next day, the housekeeper decided to go to the Jumet police station to file a complaint. “As there were a lot of people, the person at reception took my statement and advised me to file a complaint by email. So I sent all the information with the photos and documents from the veterinarian, but I didn’t ‘received no feedback’, deplores Séverine. Finally, her husband returned at the beginning of September to file a complaint with the neighborhood officer. A report of his hearing is drawn up.
“It is the neighborhood officer who is leading the investigation”
The local police confirm this complaint. “It is listed in the animal destruction section. It is the only one that has appeared in this category since the beginning of the year,” indicates David Quinaux, the spokesperson for the Charleroi police. According to him, since January 2023, there have been a total of 25 offenses linked to the Walloon animal welfare decree for acts of mistreatment, neglect or abandonment. “We have a canine brigade for animal welfare cases. It intervenes approximately 4 times a day for cases related to animals. In the case mentioned, it is the neighborhood officer who leads the investigation. This is therefore still in progress. He is certainly collecting testimonies in the neighborhood to obtain information.”indicates the spokesperson.
David Quinaux points out that pellet rifles are on sale over the counter from the age of 18. “You can easily get them on the internet. On the other hand, killing an animal is obviously an offense”underlines the police officer.
An animal welfare service in the municipality: what is its role?
At the municipal level, there has also been an animal welfare service since 2021. It employs three people full-time: a veterinarian, an assessor and an administrative agent. “This service manages in particular complaints of animal abuse or neglect which come from the police, the animal welfare unit of the Public Service of Wallonia, various animal protection associations and citizens”explains Alicia Monard, alderman for animal welfare in Charleroi.
“When a complaint comes to us, and there are many, a visit is organized on site with or without police support depending on the circumstances,” adds the alderman. According to City statistics, 294 complaints have been processed since the creation of this service 2 years ago.
A fine results in a one-year prison sentence
As a judicial police officer, the investigating officer can issue warnings and fines in the event of infractions. He can also seize one or more animals. It is then up to the prosecution to decide on possible follow-ups. Several months ago, a 60-year-old man was, for example, sentenced to one year in prison for allowing a dog to starve to death in Marchienne-au-Pont.
In the case of Lolita, the Charleroi welfare service was not contacted by the local police. In any case, at this stage of the investigation.
I panic, I can’t sleep at night
For Séverine, the wait is long and agonizing. “Who is shooting? Why and how? We don’t know anything. I’m going through hell. What are the police doing? It’s still serious! I can’t sleep at night. My children are crying and Fifi is looking desperately everywhere her daughter”, confides the thirty-year-old. She fears that her second cat will suffer the same fate. “I live in fear. It’s a disaster for Gosselies. I can’t lock up my other cat who is used to going out, but I’m afraid all the time. I look where she’s going and I panic.”she admits.
Beyond fear, Séverine feels immense sadness. “It’s horrible the death of an animal like that. I no longer live without her, the void is immense. Such an adorable cat… why is there so much violence against animals”, deplores the housekeeper.
Today, she hopes that the author will be identified quickly so that she can regain some form of serenity.
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