The small village Benenden in Kent has become the scene of a brutal crime.
Late last month, police were called to investigate a murder.
An entire family had been riddled with bullets, stuffed in plastic bags and left for dead. The victims, two adult swans and their five cygnets were waiting to be found on the edge of a river bank — tossed like trash when just hours ago they had been alive.
Authorities were shocked at the horrific scene and after recovering the bodies and conducting an X-ray it was clear what had happened.
Someone or perhaps more than one had taken an air rifle and decided to use the family of swans for target practice. These air rifle/bb guns have become a serious threat to animal safety. According to the RSPCA, they received "884 calls reporting airgun attacks on animals across England and Wales last year" — 51 of which were from Kent County — the second highest in the nation. In fact, Care2 has also written about a
few cases.
Clearly, there is a certain type of person who derives a disturbing pleasure from torturing, maiming or killing small animals with air weapons. That is a troubling realization. People who are capable of inflicting this kind of violence against an animal could potentially turn to humans too. It is up to Kent Police to find the perpetrator and bring them to justice.
Help demand justice for the family of Benenden swans. Sign the petition and demand that Kent police continue their search for their killer. 