A SQUIRREL was shot in the spine in the latest of a series of air rifle attacks on animals.

Leatherhead charity Wildlife Aid has seen a spate of attacks in which squirrels, foxes, owls and swans have been shot with air guns.

It has warned gun owners who target wild animals they face criminal charges.

It is legal to shoot squirrels and foxes in certain circumstances but Wildlife Aid's founder Simon Cowell said it should not be done for enjoyment.

He said: "Ownership and use of these weapons is perfectly legal but what is neither legal nor morally acceptable is to go around firing them randomly at animals."

The injured squirrel was found last Wednesday in Elmhurst Drive, Dorking and taken to Wildlife Aid's hospital in Leatherhead.

Mr Cowell said: "The squirrel was dragging itself along and had no feeling from the waist down.

"We had to put the poor creature to sleep as there was nothing we could do for it.

"There was an air rifle pellet lodged in the squirrel's back. The animal's spine was completely shattered.

"This is the sort of thing that happens a lot when irresponsible and idiotic people decide to use animals for target practice in their gardens."

He added: "The police need to make clear that anyone doing so is likely to be committing a number of criminal offences and will be prosecuted.

"The person who shot this poor squirrel in Dorking, and others who fire their air guns at animals, are just irresponsible hooligans. That message needs to go out loud and clear."

CARING: Lucy Kells, hospital manager at Wildlife Aid in Leatherhead, with a squirrel in her care

Sandy Horvath, a former Surrey Police officer who now works as operations manager for Wildlife Aid, said: "It is one of those things that happens from time to time.

"It is dangerous and you have also got issues under the antisocial behaviour act in relation to causing alarm and distress.

"If they are shooting pest species they need a reason for doing it. It has to be a pest. If somebody thinks they can just take pot shots at an animal in their back garden, they can't."

Surrey Police said they had no record of the incident in Elmhurst Drive.

Wildlife crime officer PC Jo Dootson said: "I am often frustrated by the number of crimes relating to wildlife that are not reported to the police.

"So often, we could have dealt with the incident quickly and robustly if we were aware at the time. If you believe a wildlife crime has been committed you should report it to the police."