THE shooting of tabby cat Phoebe, discovered severely injured near her owners’ Ferndale Road home, represents much more than lethal cruelty to an animal.

Branches of the media sometimes describe such atrocities as “unbelievable” but we shall do no such thing.

What happened to the cat is all too believable because barely a year goes by without at least one such incident.

In the case of Phoebe, as in all the previous cases, it is important to remember that the person responsible is a danger not just to animals but also to their fellow human beings.

The fact is that whoever committed this crime remains capable of pointing a very powerful air weapon at a living being and pulling the trigger.

When they attacked the cat there is every chance they were aware of the inevitable consequences.

The only alternative is that they are so lacking in brainpower they were unable to make the mental leap between cause and effect.

Whatever the truth, there is nothing to prevent them from harming another animal or doing the same to a human being — most likely a vulnerable human being, such as a child.

As we have noted before, the literature of criminology details many cases in which people committed horrific offences against people after first attacking animals.

That is why is is vital for anybody with the slightest notion of who is responsible to tell the police of their suspicions. They can do so anonymously via Crimestoppers if they prefer.

Anybody who protects the attacker is every bit as culpable.