After hearing shots fired on Saturday night, one farmer near Rankins Springs made a “disturbing” discovery, very similar to one made by a Binya family several weeks ago.
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His family’s pet alpaca had been shot – and not mercifully.
Affectionately named Beverly, the 16-year-old Alpaca was left to bleed out slowly and die from a shot wound.
“She was definitely like a pet,” the farmer told The Area News.
“It’s cowardly. It’s gutless. It’s just pathetic, and it shows a blatant disregard for anything.”
Beverly had been owned by his father before his passing, who would spend time with her, enjoying her quiet yet loyal nature.
“He was pretty unwell for the last five to six years of his life, and he spent time with them every morning and every evening, and since he’s passed away, I’ve been feeding them and checking on them.”
His mother also loved the alpacas, and said Beverly’s alpaca companion had been “lost” ever since Saturday night.
“Alpacas are excellent guard animals if a fox or wild dog was around, however they are never aggressive towards humans.”
He is also concerned it took eight shots to hit something 150 meters away, roughly the size of a bar fridge.
“Professional shooters are trained to shoot accurately. It’s a requirement so no animal suffers.”
“I’m disturbed that people just wander on to private land, pull up to the fence, and shoot their pet. And the truth is I don’t know if they were trying to get the horse, the sheep, or the other alpaca.”
This senseless shooting comes after a family horse was shot and killed by an unknown person using a high-powered rifle on a family’s property in Binya on May 23.
Police Inspector Nick Seddon said at this stage it is unclear whether the two shootings are related.
It’s cowardly. It’s gutless. It’s just pathetic, and it shows a blatant disregard for anything.
“We can’t link these two incidents at this point other than them both being senseless acts towards defenseless animals and family pets,” Inspector Seddon said.
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“These acts affect the whole family who owns these animals.”
“Its highly illegal activity.”
He strongly urges anyone with information about either of the shootings to come forward to police.
“If you saw any vehicles in the area of Rankins Springs around 9.30pm on Saturday or heard any gunshots, please contact police or call Crimestoppers.”
If you have information, call Griffith Police Station on 6969 4299 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000. Alternatively you can use their online reporting page.
