Rescue volunteers were left "sickened" after discovering an airgun pellet embedded in a cat's leg following her rescue.
Two cats, Ellie and Stan, were found abandoned by a rescue volunteer from Johnstone Cat Rescue on January 10 near Gleniffer Braes.
Sadly, Ellie was found with a slight limp, which they thought may have been a sprain or a bump, however an x-ray later showed an airgun pellet embedded in her elbow.
She now needs amputation surgery to help relieve the pain and Johnstone Cat Rescue is raising funds to pay for the surgery.
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Speaking to Glasgow Live, owner and founder of the rescue project, Margaret Finnigen said: "One of our volunteers was working up there when he noticed the cats, because they were together we knew they had to have come from the same family.
"There are no farms or houses near that area so we knew the cats had to have been dumped by someone.
"The volunteer started to feed the cats and gave us a call straight away, that's when we decided to bring them into foster care."
Both the cats seemed to be "very scared" and vulnerable, however Margaret's team of volunteers were able to cage both Ellie and Stan and took them straight to the vet.
The 70 year-old continued: "Neither of them were neutered or chipped, so our vet did that for us.
"We have no background information on them so we don't know their exact age but the vet and I came up with a rough age of around 3 and 4 years, that's just our best guess which is all we can do really."
The younger of the pair Stan, has since been rehomed and the plan is for Ellie to join him after she has recovered from her surgery.
Margaret has since set up a JustGiving page in hopes to raise enough money to cover Ellie's surgery as the cost will be roughly £1,400.
Since making the appeal Margaret and her volunteers have received kind and supportive comments from fellow cat lovers and donors.
Margaret said: "I would like it to be known that any money that is raised over and above Ellie's treatment will go towards our other cats, because we are bringing in cats all the time, it is never ending."
The fundraiser page reads: "Some of you will remember that we at Johnstone Cat Rescue came across two cats who had been dumped up at the braes. One of our volunteers trapped them and got them to our vet. None of the cats had been chipped or neutered. We called them Stan and Ellie.
"Ellie came with a slight limp which was at first thought to be a bump or a sprain. She was given antibiotics and pain relief but this was unsuccessful and it became clear that the limp wasn't going away.
"The next step was X rays, and what this revealed was both shocking and sickening. Ellie had been shot with an airgun at some point in her previous life and the pellet fractured her foreleg. Over time the elbow had fused together, causing her pain and limited mobility.
"The resulting news is not good - Ellie's leg will have to be amputated, there is no other way to remove the source of the pain. This attack on a defenceless little cat has left us devastated and heartbroken that she'll have to endure surgery.
"Why oh why do good people die and yet the evil scum of the earth get to live on? Ellie's vet bill will be approx £1400, which will take a huge chunk out of our funds. Thank you to everyone in advance, and also thank you to those who have already donated by other means."
The incident has not been reported to Police Scotland.
If you would like to donate please click here, Margaret is also accepting phone call donations via 01505 703350.
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