A wealthy businessman has spent £10,000 hunting the mindless thugs who fatally injured his daughter's pet cat in Exeter.
The man is furious that both the police and the RSPCA have been unwilling to interview the suspects in the shooting of the young black cat called Farah.
The 55-year-old man does not want to be named at this stage because he does not want to put his 23-year-old daughter in any danger.
The 14-month-old cat was shot around midnight on Saturday, September 27, in Exeter, by someone armed with an air rifle.
The family spent £3,500 on emergency vet fees before her agonising death caused by internal bleeding and septicaemia.
Within days the businessman hired an investigation firm to make inquiries into the shooting which happened near Exeter's Crematorium on the main arterial Topsham Road.
He said: "I would never advocate vigilante style behaviour but it is clear that society is fed up to the back teeth with anti social behaviour, bullying and downright thuggery that the police forces in this country now seem either powerless or unmotivated to investigate and prosecute.
"If to try and make a difference it takes a few wealthy people to act in support of the majority, then I will quite happily spend what it costs.
"In spite of spending £10,000 on the investigation, surveillance work and creating a contact route for residents to talk about their troubles, there is still no willingness from the police to interview the suspects, which is especially unfathomable given that the primary suspect is well known to them for previous offences.
"And we see similar inaction from the RSPCA. No animal should suffer in such a way.
"My daughter was devastated and no dad wants to see that. The next time it could be a family with young children, or an elderly widow who had just lost her husband and then her beloved cat.
"This is mindless cruelty and bullying. Evidence clearly shows that many young people who hurt animals, hurt human beings in later life.
"I appointed a private investigation team because it became clear that the police were not prepared to investigate the incident, and, just as worrying, nor were the RSPCA.
"I know the police are busy and I know they have suffered budget cuts but society can't just go on ignoring this kind of thuggish behaviour."
He said it was this determination to 'fight back' that led him to hire the private investigators who have identified four suspects and have retrieved the pellet that killed Farah.
They have plotted a number of incidents all within 800 metres of the main suspect's home which involve the shooting dead of animals and objects in a range of criminal and anti social behaviour.
The father has also offered a £1,000 reward leading to the conviction of those responsible.
His daughter, who lives in Exeter, said: "My cat's name was Farah, as in Mo Farah. She was only 14 months old when she got shot and died.
"What frustrates me now, over and above the fact Farah was shot, is that nobody will be held to account and the lack of action from those who should be doing something."
Her dad added:"I now have four clear suspects' names and addresses and yet neither the police nor the RSPCA want to know.
"I'm absolutely livid and it is just this kind of inaction that leaves thugs on the street without fear of being called to account."
Devon and Cornwall Police said:"Police continue to investigate this incident of cruelty to a cat, and are liaising with the private investigator to establish whether any information they have can assist the police."
The RSPCA has not responded.
